Japan temple refuses to host torch ceremony

Zenkoji Temple, which hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics, has pulled out of plans to host a ceremony for the Olympic torch relay because of concerns over Tibet.

A Japanese Buddhist temple has pulled out of plans to host a ceremony for the Olympic torch relay because of concerns over Tibet, Jiji Press reported on Friday quoting local officials.

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"Zenkoji Temple, a landmark in Nagano City, which hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics, cited China's "crack-down" in Tibet for the decision, which forced the city to change the starting point of the relay route," the report said.