The torch relay took on Canberra and it won.

Despite many thousands of Chinese students bussed in from Melbourne, and several hundred Pro-Tibet supporters whose grassroots campaign has so far overshadowed the global event, Australia made good on its promise to run a tight, enjoyable relay.

The symbol of peace and sporting achievement it around and through Canberra despite an occasional tussle with protester.

Seven people were arrested for interfering with the relay.

"Today was a spectacular success," said Jon Stanhope ACT Chief Minister.

"It really does ignite the Olympic spirit,"
Mark Beretta.

"I'm absolutely chuffed in terms of what we have presented to the world - a country that does understand the notion of diversity, and the right to express an opinion"

"It was always going to be a pretty challenging day for Tibet supporters," said the leader of the Australian Tibet Council, Paul Bourke.

"We got through it, despite antagonism from certain groups."

Overwhelmingly, people stayed within their designated areas, Bourke told the Sky News, adding he believed the Chinese Embassy paid for the buses that brought Chinese students to the relay.

There were, he says, "a couple of incidents of people being punched in the stomach, and their flag grabbed." 

At least one local resident's experience backs up this claim. "I got a flying kick in the leg, another bloke was hit in the head with a stick with a Chinese flag attached to it and our banners were torn down," Alastair Paterson from Canberra suburb Lake George told Fairfax.

Mr Paterson says he was standing watching the relay with his seven year old daughter holding a 'Free Tibet ' flag that angered a mob of protesters draped in Chinese flags. 

Police say they are yet to receiev any formal complaints.  

The highly visible Chinese Flame Attendants appeared in some doubt as to their role, trying to run beside the torch bearers but being sensitively man-handled away by Australian Federal Police. 

One spokesperson claimed this confusion was due to a language problem.

Sunrise Sports Reporter and former water skiing Olympian Mark Beretta was number 29 in the list of 80 torch bearers. "There was a bit of a hot-spot as we traveled through Parliament House where the protesters were on either side," recalled Beretta.

Despite this, his run was competed without incident.

Marathon legend Robert DeCastella got the closest to protesters with one managing to break through police barriers and sit himself on the road in DeCastella's path.

He was swiftly thrown onto the grass verge and pinned down by police.

"Police always acted with an appropriate level of force. They did a great job."

It wasn't the protesters but the flame attendants that paid Beretta some special attention.

"I had to be adjusted there at one point by Kochie's friends the officials," Beretta joked. "You have to get it up nice and high apparently. Such a special thing to think you get to hold it - even for just a few minutes. Just magic."

"It really does ignite the Olympic spirit," says Beretta.

 

More info 

Australia Tibet Council 

Chinese Embassy

Related Links 

Beijing Olympics  

See Beretts's face lit up like a torch

View our relay gallery