[Keilar:] Are you flying today? Maybe you know someone who is. You're going to want to prepare for more travel trouble today unfortunately. American Airlines expecting to cancel more flights. The airline canceled about 500 flights yesterday. Its Md-80 planes are undergoing wiring checks for the second time in two weeks. Airline officials say the inspection focuses on cords used to secure bundles of wires in the wheel wells. American says it is working to help passengers whose flights are canceled. But the advice for travelers, check the Web site for information about your flights.
[Harris:] Police on high alert in San Francisco today. The Olympic torch is in town. And the city, as you can imagine, expecting big protests. CNN's Ted Rowlands is following the action in the city by the bay. Ted, good morning to you. Who's behind you, there?
[Ted Rowlands, Cnn Correspondent:] Good morning, Tony. Behind us, six hours early, a large group of pro-Olympic, pro-Chinese demonstrators out here lining the beginning of this torch run route, which is six miles in length. Given what has happened in London and Paris, San Francisco officials are not sure what to expect here later today.
[Rowlands:] It was all smiles for the carefully orchestrated arrival of the Olympic flame, but clearly the city of San Francisco is bracing for trouble. After watching the chaos in London and Paris, San Francisco police admit they're concerned the same problems could erupt along the planned six-mile San Francisco torch route, which they may end up changing at the 11th hour. Things still are subject to change based on the information that we receive. The goal is to have a safe event for everybody, the spectators and the participants. Torchbearer Marilyn King knows first hand the worst- case scenario of the Olympic stage. The two-time Olympian was in Munich in 1972 when 11 Israeli athletes and coaches were killed by terrorists. She also lost her chance to compete in the 1980 Olympics because of the U.S. boycott in Moscow. She is planning to run with the Olympic torch even though she is concerned that something may happen.
[Marilyn King, Torch Carrier:] There are always people who are willing to step outside of those boundaries, so I have some anxiety about that.
[Rowlands:] Protesters have already made their presence felt in San Francisco with the precision planned Golden Gate Bridge stunt that included using baby carriages to sneak in banners and climbing equipment past police.
[Protesters:] China lies, people dies! China lies, people dies!
[Rowlands:] Several organizations held demonstrations Tuesday including actor Richard Gere's international campaign for Tibet. Gere sat down with us to discuss the torch protest, which he describes as extraordinary.
[Richard Gere, Actor:] The whole world seems to spontaneously react to this situation and know that it's a fraud, what the Chinese are doing. It's a fraud. This is not an athletic game to them. This is putting a stamp of approval on repression and human rights abuses.
[Unidentified Male:] Stop lying to the world!
[Protesters:] Stop lying to the world! China lies, people die.
[Rowlands:] San Francisco is the only North America's torch stop in the world, including China. We'll be watching to see what happens. A lot of things we'll be watching very closely by law enforcement. Incidentally, every single San Francisco police officer is working today. They pulled back all of the vacations, brought everybody in, also local and federal law enforcement helping out with this. Here we're looking at basically one side of the equation. That is a pro-China, pro-Olympics, folks lining the parade route. You're going to add into this mix a number of different factors later today. The anti-China folks are going to be coming along this six-mile route. How these different groups will interact will be monitored. How the security forces that accompany the torch will be monitored. The guys in the blue sweat suits that you saw in Paris and in London, they've come under a lot of criticism. They're from China, they're protecting that flame, and a lot of people say they sort of agitated the crowd. They will be watching. That flame may be put out intentionally, like they did in Paris. The torch flame is not the actual Olympic flame. It's just a torch. The Olympic flame is in that glass case. But they may have to put the torch out in case people try to get out there and take it themselves. A lot of things at play here. Even the torchbearers themselves, a couple of them have vowed that they will be making some sort of political demonstration when they have the world's attention and they're carrying that torch. A lot of people crossing their fingers. A lot of people very nervous about what's going to happen later on here today in San Francisco.
[Harris:] OK, we will, of course, be watching it along with you. Ted Rowlands for us in San Francisco. Ted, appreciate it. CNN will bring you live coverage of the Olympic torch run and the events leading up to it all day. If you'd like to see the complete Olympic torch relay route, check out cnn.com. We have a special report, "COUNTDOWN OLYMPICS 2008." There you will find an interactive guide, and you can send and share your I-reports as the torch passes through your area. That's not bad. That's at cnn.comolympics.
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