World | 2008 Beijing Olympics Australia Spirits Away Torch Ahead of Relay Protesters do their thing anyway By Kevin Spak Posted Apr 23, 2008 10:12 AM CDT Copied A long security fence, left, lines the street to Australia's parliament house in Canberra, Australia, Wednesday, April 23, 2008, ahead of the torch relay for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith) The Olympic torch arrived Down Under today, but was immediately whisked off to a secret location to avoid protesters, the AP reports. Tomorrow’s torch relay in Canberra will be open to the public—unlike those in Jakarta and New Delhi—but the route will be lined with yard-high fences and police. Protesters gathered across Australia today, holding a candlelit vigil in Canberra, and draping a banner over a Coke billboard in Sydney. Australian PM Kevin Rudd has said police will come down "like a ton of bricks" on anyone who behaves unlawfully during the relay. Read These Next Protesters killed storming US consulate in Pakistan. Boebert defends leaking Hillary Clinton photo. Trump says he'll talk with Iranian leaders. Abduction survivor's story is one of pain and resilience. Report an error