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Australia's national capital is anxiously watching the tempestuous journey of the Olympic torch as it goes to South America after violent protests in London and Paris, and the farce of San Francisco's route detours.
Canberra's initial delight at being selected as one of only 21 international stopovers for
the torch on its journey from Athens to Beijing has been tempered by protests against China's clamp on dissent in Tibet.
Details of the route the torch will take through the city on April 24 have not yet been finalised and there are suggestions that it may be shortened because of security concerns that have pumped costs well above the budget of A$900,000.
It appears certain the torch will not pass, as envisaged, by the spectacular Chinese Embassy - across the road from the New Zealand High Commission - because of planned protests.
Torch-carriers in the relay will include a New Zealander, ironman Aaron Fleming, 24, of Hamilton.
A spokeswoman for Australian Capital Territory Chief Minister John Stanhope said the route was under constant revision and would not be announced until the eve of the relay because of security and other concerns.
Although at this stage considered unlikely, some fear that demonstrations may prompt cancellation of the torch's international relay before it reaches Canberra.
"I wouldn't be surprised if the International Olympic Committee made the decision not to continue with the relay," Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson said.
"If you apply the prism of common sense to this, they have obviously had difficulty now in three countries, and it should be no surprise that there are likely to be protests with further torch relays."
Mr Stanhope told ABC radio: "I don't believe it would be appropriate now to cut the relay off to essentially humiliate and embarrass the Chinese into taking the torch home.
"I don't think that would achieve anything in the context of human rights within China and it certainly wouldn't be appropriate in terms of the Olympic Games and why it is we celebrate them."
Officials have said a considerable force will protect the torch and its 80 relay runners.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has said all security will be provided by Australian agencies and that Chinese security "attendants" would not be permitted to guard its progress through Canberra.
Two "attendants" would be allowed to follow the route in an Australian vehicle.
Mr Rudd has expressed Australia's anger at human rights violations in Tibet personally to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing and has yet to confirm he will attend the opening of the games - an invitation extended by Premier Wen during last year's Apec summit in Sydney.
Neither Mr Rudd nor his senior ministers will greet the torch in Canberra, leaving it to Sports Minister Kate Ellis.
Anti-Chinese protesters have promised a peaceful demonstration, including a mass turning of backs as the torch passes,
But hundreds of opponents are preparing to bus to Canberra to support China, raising fears violence could erupt.
"One thing about Australia is that it is a robust democracy," Mr Rudd said. "People can express their view in whichever way they want, and that's good."
Under present planning, the torch will be carried through Canberra by 80 runners, including sporting greats such as former Olympians Ian Thorpe, Ron Clark, Robert de Costella, and Kerry Saxby-Junna.
The relay will also include a broad range of Australians, from paralympian Louise Sauvage and Aboriginal elder Edmund Thomas to West Australian epidemiologist Professor Fiona Stanley, cancer researcher Professor Ian Frazer, plastic surgeon Fiona Wood and country singer Lee Kernaghan.
