 The carrying of the Olympic flame 7,000 miles (11,300km) across Italy, through 140 cities, ahead of the winter games in Turin has been plagued by almost daily confrontations after becoming the focus of protests by anti-global and environmental activists. Demonstrators have booed the flame, blocked its passage and caused it to be temporarily extinguished.
| I'd ask whether these people have anything better to do, but this is Italy. |
With three weeks to go before the Olympics start, the mayor of Turin, Sergio Chiamparino, has pleaded with protesters on the radio to demonstrate peacefully and leave the flame alone. Police, however, have registered 36 separate disturbances since the relay began on December 8. The majority of protests centre on a campaign to boycott Coca-Cola, whose sponsorship of the sporting event is reputed to be worth £36m.
| 'cause every true Leftist knows that Coca-Cola is evil. Says so in the Communist Manifesto. You could look it up. |
Environmentalists opposed to a planned high-speed railway link between Italy and France and to the Mose plan to save Venice from high tides have also been protesting.
| If they don't build the train, people will just ... drive. |
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