San Francisco mayor promises security for Olympic torch relay
8/4/2008 18:06
While voicing confidence in San Francisco's police, Mayor Garvin Newsom
pledged that the city has the ability to provide the level of security to make
the Olympic torch relay "a safe event for everyone".
"I have absolute
confidence in our police chief Heather Fong to ensure a proud and smooth torch
relay" scheduled for April 9 in San Francisco, Newsom said in an interview with
Xinhua.
The Police Department has direct experience in Olympic torch runs in
San Francisco, Newsom said in remarks intended to alleviate worries about
police's ability to provide enough security amid threats to disrupt the
relay.
The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD), along with the mayor's
staff and some other departments, "has been working continuously with local,
state, and federal agencies to ensure the safety of the Beijing torch run
participants and the spectators," said the mayor.
He said the city's police
"has extensive experience in monitoring and facilitating the hundreds of large
public events that take place in San Francisco each year, and is confident that
the department will provide the level of security to make this a safe event for
everyone."
"In addition, the department is focusing not only on safety, but
also on traffic concerns in the areas adjacent to the torch run route," he
said.
SFPD Traffic Division personnel will be facilitating traffic in those
areas that will be affected by the route, according to the mayor.
The mayor
also brushed aside criticism for giving the green light to the Olympic torch
relay, saying the city takes great pride in hosting the great event.
"The
Olympic torch represents the journey for excellence, and we are honored to have
the opportunity to host and contribute to the Beijing Olympic Journey of
Harmony," Newsom said.
San Francisco will the be sixth leg of the Olympic
torch relay when the torch is handed over to the city on April 9. Eighty torch
bearers from across North America will carry the Beijing Olympic torch through
San Francisco streets in a 6-mile route along the city's bay waterfront on April
9. The city is the torch's only stop in the continent as part of its worldwide
relay, called "Journey of Harmony".
The Olympic torch has come through San
Francisco as part of the Squaw Valley Games 1960, Los Angeles 1984, Atlanta
1996, Salt Lake City 2002, the mayor said.
"In San Francisco in San
Francisco, we are on our own journey for a sustainable future," he
said.
"This is our chance to showcase how local innovation and excellence -
in fitness, environmental initiatives and sustainable business practices - can
be examples for the world."
With iconic landmarks like the Golden Gate
Bridge, the Transamerican Building and the famous Victorian houses, San
Francisco is an ideal backdrop as the world looks on to the extraordinary event,
according to the mayor.
He voiced hope that the coming relay would be held
with the Olympic spirit which is to unite people.
"Speaking as the mayor of
San Francisco, I am a firm believer that
Olympics is to unite the people
and the world through sports," Newsom said.
"The most important thing in the
Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing
in life is not the triumph but the struggle.
"The essential thing is not to
have conquered but to have fought well."
Calling the relay a symbol of
international unity, the mayor acknowledged that the Olympic torch relay bears
great significance for spreading the Olympic spirit, promoting mutual
understanding among different peoples in the world and safeguarding world
peace.
"I am also very proud to announce that San Francisco's theme for our
leg of the Olympic torch relay is 'A Sustainable Journey'", the mayor
said.
"This concept refers to 'sustainability' both in terms of the Olympic
journey, which began with the Ancient Olympics in Greece in 776 BC but in modern
times has become an effort to foster world-wide comradeship and peace.
"It
also resonates with San Francisco's deserved reputation as the US leader in
environmental and sustainable awareness and practices."
Candidates for
torchbearing have submitted essays that articulated what sustains them or how
they are working towards a more sustainable community, nation or world,
according to the mayor.
Newsom said he expected the Beijing Olympics to be "a
very successful event that can be examples for the world".
"I am very
confident that the Beijing Olympics will be a very
successful event that can
be examples for the world," the mayor said.
The mayor also congratulated the
Chinese people on a successful launch of Beijing Olympic torch relay on March
31, 2008.
"San Francisco has always been proud of our strong cultural ties to
China and Beijing," the mayor said.
He said 39 percent of San Francisco's
residents were born in another country with 28 percent of these foreign born
residents coming from China and the Chinese community in San Francisco became
the largest and most vibrant in America.
Xinhua
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