Four months before the opening of what was supposed to be the grandest Olympics in history, the head of the International Olympic Committee is using words that convey anything but a sense of joyous enthusiasm.
The protest-marred Olympic torch relay and international criticism of China's policies on Tibet, Darfur and human rights have turned the Beijing Games into one of the most politically charged in recent history.
It presented the IOC with one of its toughest tests since the boycott era of the 1970s and '80s.
"It is a crisis, there is no doubt about that," IOC President Jacques Rogge said Thursday. "But the IOC has weathered many bigger storms."
At the same time, Rogge called on China to respect its "moral engagement" to improve human rights and to fulfil promises of greater media freedom. He also reaffirmed the right of free speech for athletes at the Beijing Games.
Rogge spoke in Beijing just hours after the completion of the torch relay in San Francisco, where the route was shortened and the flame diverted to prevent disruptions by massive crowds of anti-China protesters.
Rogge cited previous crises -- the attack on Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics and the boycotts of the 1976, 1980 and 1984 Games.
"The history of the Olympic Games is fraught by a lot of challenges," Rogge said. "This is a challenge but you cannot compare to what we had in the past."
British IOC member Craig Reedie believes the worst is over.
"I think the furor that has affected the torch in London, Paris and to some extent in San Francisco will now die down. ... But it is fair to say that this kind of political protest is a new experience for the IOC and we have all found it extremely uncomfortable."
After the chaos caused by pro-Tibet demonstrators during torch relays in London and Paris, IOC officials were relieved the North American leg, in San Francisco, passed without any injuries.
"It was, however, not the joyous party that we had wished it to be," said Rogge. "Athletes in many countries are in disarray and we need to reassure them," he added. "Our major responsibility is to offer them the games they deserve. ... We have 120 days to achieve this."
Earlier in the week, IOC officials had contemplated possibly cutting short the international leg of the relay, but Rogge said Thursday that was not an option.
"This scenario is definitely not on the agenda," he said. "We are studying together with (Beijing organizers) to improve the torch relay, but there is no scenario of either interrupting or bringing (the torch) back directly to Beijing."
But local officials might still shorten existing routes if security demands it.
The flame will be carried through Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Friday, with a dozen other countries still to come.
The future of international torch relays is in serious doubt, however. Rogge said "all options are open" for future games, including restricting the relays to the territory of the host country, a policy favoured by a large number of IOC members. Athens, in 2004, was the first host city to organize a global relay.
-- The Associated Press
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