Those Chinese guys accompanying the Olympic Torch (Codename: Flambeaux Keep-away) are actually paramilitary police who have developed quite the reputation for bullying even non-Tibetans. Track star Lord Coe had this to say:
In more democratic countries, we dress our Secret Service agents in suits and ties instead of blue tracksuits. That is, we make them look like Secret Service agents, not Olympians, unless it’s absolutely necessary for them to be undercover. But perhaps we should give China the benefit of the doubt and assume these thugs are actually Olympians. Maybe they’re competing in one of the new sports China added to this year’s Olympics. Panda wrestling? The summer biathlon that involves cross-country running (after Tibetans) and shooting (at Tibetans)?
