Beijing celebrates successful Olympic bid

Massive celebrations are taking place in Beijing after it was officially announced that the city would host the 2008 Olympic Games. While the Chinese capital had been considered the frontrunner, it was thought concern about the country's human rights record might have given the edge to other contenders, Toronto and Paris. Beijing won the vote in the second round after Osaka was eliminated in the count, which took place in Moscow. Beijing garnered 56 votes, beating Toronto(22), Istanbul(9), and Paris(18).

The human rights group Amnesty International said that China must improve its human rights policies in light of today's announcement by the IOC. In a statement, Amnesty said that Beijing must prove it is worthy of staging the games by upholding their Olympic spirit of fair play and extending respect for universal, fundamental, ethical principles to the people of China.

The organisation said that Chinese authorities had executed more people in the past three months than the rest of the world put together in the last three years. Amnesty estimates that 1,700 alleged criminals had been put to death since last April.

Tibet's government-in-exile said that the choice gave an international stamp of approval to China's human rights violations, although Japan and Taiwan, which is claimed by China, have welcomed the announcement.

State television in China began all-day special coverage of its Olympic campaign. Tens of thousands of people in Beijing watched the announcement on big screens in public places. Delegates from the five cities bidding to host the games campaigned through the night to try to secure last minute support.

Meanwhile, Russian police have arrested twelve people who protested against Beijing's bid. About 20 protesters tried to raise a banner saying "No Olympics in Beijing until Tibet is free!" outside the World Trade Centre where the IOC was voting. Police and paramilitary security officers dispersed the group and arrested a dozen people. Among those arrested were Russian Buddhists, press rights activists and a Tibetan monk.