CANBERRA, Australia — China’s red flag was seemingly everywhere on the Australian leg of the Olympic torch relay, a nationalistic display that swamped protesters’ efforts to draw attention to human rights issues in Tibet and elsewhere.
Critics said the demonstration of Chinese pride was orchestrated by officials linked with Beijing, which has been profoundly embarrassed by protests during what was supposed to be a parade of global harmony ending at the Olympics.
China denied any involvement in sponsoring supporters.
Australian officials celebrated the relative peace of Thursday’s 10-mile run through the capital as a triumph — at least compared with other places where the torch was almost seized by protesters or security measures were so strict that the event appeared more military than celebratory.
The Australia leg began as a half-dozen police in jogging pants, T-shirts and baseball caps formed a cordon around the torchbearer while other police staffed crowd-control barriers.
An airplane skywriter spelled out “Free Tibet” overhead and police hauled away one man who sat down for a split second in the path of a torch runner.
In one of several tense scenes away from the relay, a group of pro-Chinese tried to use their flags to cover “Free Tibet” signs carried by protesters. The two groups yelled at each other until police intervened.
In all, seven people were arrested and charged with trying to disrupt the event. Each faced a fine of up to $1,419.
Thousands of Chinese supporters traveled from Sydney and Melbourne for the relay. City officials estimated there were about 10,000 pro-Chinese, outnumbering protesters 4-1.
The flame’s next stop is Saturday in Nagano, Japan.
Meanwhile, nervous that troublemakers may slip across the border before the Olympic Games, China is making it harder for foreigners to obtain entry visas and halting public gatherings where embarrassing protests over Tibet might take place.
Authorities suspended a May 1-4 rock festival that is the biggest annual outdoor music event in China, saying the event could be dangerous, an organizer said Thursday.
Other commercial events also have been canceled in recent weeks, including a Celine Dion concert in Beijing and a pillow fight aimed at drawing shoppers to a mall.
McClatchy Newspapers contributed to this report.
