Protesters argue that carrying the Olympic Torch through Tibet would be not only insensitive but could also provoke violence. The protesters believe that the Torch Relay's three presenting partners, Coca-Cola, Samsung and Lenovo, hold enough sway with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to convince the governing body to reroute the Relay.
Students for a Free Tibet, the US group that led protests earlier this month in San Francisco, where it hung banners from the Golden Gate Bridge, will gather outside Coca-Cola's annual shareholders meeting in Delaware. The protesters will bring 105 Tibetans from New York by bus for the demonstration, as well as 60 other supporters from around the world. The demonstration is being orchestrated by exiled Tibetan and executive director of Students for a Free Tibet, Lhadon Tethong. The activist is expected to issue a rallying cry to supporters.
A spokesman for Coca-Cola in Atlanta said: 'Coca-Cola doesn't play a role [in deciding] which cities [the Torch Relay] travels to or have input in changing its course. That is left to the organising comittee, Bocog, and the IOC.'
Separately, other activist groups, including the Free Tibet ±±¾©Èü³µpk10, have this week met in Budapest, Hungary, to discuss their strategy regarding the three sponsors. A spokesman said he also expected pressure to be applied to Volkswagen, which is supporting the Relay with the provision of vehicles.
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