In the longest ever Olympic torch trip, aimed to reflect China’s economic and political power, the flame arrived in San Francisco, its only stop in North America, on Tuesday morning and was treated like a head of state.

The torch was accommodated in a hotel downtown as it waits to begin its march through San Francisco. The route of the six- mile march was not revealed, but it is expected to go along the city’s waterfront.

The tour that includes 79 runners is a part of the torch’s world relay, is supposed to support the Olympic values, such as excellence, friendship and respect, but activists criticize the fact that the Chinese government forgot one of the most important values, that is human rights.

As the torch will make its way through San Francisco, organizers will have to face and deal with protesters coming from around the world to support Tibet, but also Myanmar and Sudan, as the recent events in Tibet raised attention on all the persecuted people on the planet.

According to the local officials, the activists would not be stopped to non- violently express their viewpoints, but they still tightened security after chaotic protests in London and Paris and another demonstration that took place on Monday and in which people hung banners from the Golden Gate bridge.

Hundreds of police officers will guard the march and the surrounding areas, while restaurants on the route were asked to restrain their patio seating and all the buildings downtown stepped up security.

Groups of protesters were already rallying in the city on Tuesday, carrying Tibetan flags, going from the United Nations Plaza, a pedestrian area close to the City Hall, and the Chinese Consulate.