Torch relay will be a grand success: Kalmadi

Beijing Olympic Torch relay's global odyssey may have been marred by disruptions by Tibetan and human rights activists till now, but India is confident that it would pass through New Delhi on April 17 smoothly and be a "grand success".

"Much before what happened in London and Paris, we have already taken necessary steps in Delhi. I think we are going to have a very good torch relay," Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Suresh Kalmadi said.

Kalmadi is in the Chinese capital to attend the General Assembly of Association of National Olympic Committees, which would be followed by the joint meeting of the International Olympic Committee Executive Board and NOCs for two days from Thursday.

The Olympic Torch has drawn the ire of Tibetan and human rights activists following China's crackdown to quell the unrest in Tibet.

Persistent attempts to disrupt the relay in London and replication of similar scenes in Paris that forced officials to extinguish the flame four times have fuelled anxiety and fears about the smooth global relay of the torch in its longest
ever Olympic journey.

A large Tibetan population is living in exile in India and a concerned China had taken up the matter with the Indian government which has assured a smooth relay.

The London and Paris incidents and remarks of some IOC officials on Tuesday led to speculation that the global torch relay might be curtailed.