Beijing: Organisers today said that Olympics in the Chinese capital, including the ongoing torch relay within the country, would not be affected by the earthquake disaster that has killed thousands of people in Sichuan province.

"The earthquake will not affect (preparations) of the Games," an official of the Beijing Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (BOCOG) said. Beijing Olympic Media Centre Director Li Zhanjun said the earthquake stricken area "is not on the route of the torch relay. So the relay will go on as scheduled. The relay route and schedule were a joint decision by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and BOCOG. We have no right to change it alone," he was quoted as saying by official Xinhua news agency.

The Beijing Olympics torch would reach Sichuan on June 15 and pass through seven cities including its provincial capital Chengdu on June 18. "Until now, we have not received any instruction to stop the relay," he said. The BOCOG, he said, grieves for the people who suffered in the earthquake

Asked about the torch relay, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said BOCOG was "following (the situation) and making assessment according to the disaster and will make a decision in due course." He however added, "As far as I know, at present, the arrangements remain unchanged."
Source : PTI