London may abandon 2012 torch relay

The International Olympic Committee will consider abandoning plans for an international torch relay in advance of the 2012 Games following the violent protests that accompanied the Olympic flame's progress through Paris and London in the past two days.

Olympic sources said yesterday the IOC was likely to review its position on relays in light of the clashes, a move that would undermine Britain's plans to stage an international event in the build-up to 2012. During their successful bid the London Games' organisers committed to holding a domestic relay, and said they would consider staging an international "journey of hope and reconciliation".

After Sunday's troubled event in London, when a big police and security presence was required to transport the torch across the capital, those plans are already under review and the IOC's move may yet take the decision out of their hands.

A spokeswoman for the London Games said they were committed to a domestic torch relay but no decision had been take on the international leg. Senior IOC members and representatives of all 205 national Olympic committees are meeting in Beijing this week, and while coverage of events in Paris and London has been censored by the Chinese authorities it has been fiercely debated by delegates.