What happens to tradition when politics get in the way? The relit of the Olympic Games torch, which was supposed to be a symbol of the Olympic movement, was once again overshadowed, this year by the Tibetan – Chinese situation, as protesters tried to stop the carrier of the torch from passing it on to the Chinese.

The ceremony, which started on the Olympic Stadium that last hosted the games and continued in Beijing, where the torch was relit, was marked by hundreds of protesters who believe the Olympic Games should be boycotted as a response to China’s attitude towards Tibet. Police has been on alert, as this year’s Olympic Games became controversial before they even started.

Talks about boycotting the event emerged from all corners of the world, and relighting the torch was a restricted event, after authorities closed the Tiananmen Square to all but the 5,000 official guests the night before. The Chinese officials have tried to highlight the meaning of the torch, but the peace and love it was supposed to spread seems to be in a cone of shadow amid endless protests.

China has been preparing intensely for the Olympic Games, and as much as they want everything to go perfect for the August opening, countries all over the world are urging the government to put a stop to the Tibetan situation, including the United Nations and several European countries.

The host of the Games should expect a hard road ahead for the carriers of the torch, as it is scheduled to pass 20 countries in the 130 days journey before the Olympic Games start. Chinese authorities seem ambitious enough to carry on with the Games amid protests, but protesters are just as decided to put a stop to China’s attitude towards Tibet.