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As fireworks erupted from the three highest peaks around Canberra last night, the Australian capital prepared itself for a chaotic day with the Olympic torch.
At the least, Canberra's commuters will face widespread traffic disruption this morning because of the wall of steel along the torch relay's 16km route through the city.
At worst, spectators along a route guarded by half Canberra's police force could be caught in violent clashes between pro-Tibet and pro-China demonstrators, both of whom have been massing for today's relay.
Both sides have promised peaceful demonstrations, and police intend keeping them apart.
But Tibetans have said that even if they are kept away from Chinese supporters during the relay, tensions could erupt in the streets before or after the torch passes through the city.
Pro-China demonstrators claim to be busing thousands of supporters to the city and have vowed to protect the Olympic flame from disruption.
And the issue of Beijing's torch attendants continues to foment an already volatile brew.
On Tuesday, Chinese Ambassador Zhang Junsai told Channel Nine that the attendants' job was to ensure the Olympic flame was not extinguished and that if it was attacked, "I believe they will use their bodies" to protect it.
The head of the torch relay committee, Ted Quinlan, later told ABC radio: "I'm sure, as the ambassador pointed out, they will put their shoulder between anyone who wants to attack the torch, and the torch."
But Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's office repeated the Government's insistence that the attendants would have no security role, and Australian Capital Territory Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said that if the attendants overstepped their role, they would be "subject to the full force of the law".
Mr Zhang later said his remarks had been misinterpreted and the attendants would have no policing role.
Three attendants will be allowed to run with the torch to ensure it remains alight, and another three in reserve will follow in a bus.
New Zealand's only torch bearer, 24-year-old Aaron Fleming of Hamilton, expects protests to be peaceful.
He overcame a lung ailment as a teenager to become a competitive ironman, raising thousands of dollars for charity in the process.
He won the right to carry the flame for New Zealand after a nationwide search last year.
"I accept that there is likely to be some protest, but I believe it will be done in a peaceful way," Mr Fleming said in Canberra.
Calls for peaceful protest were also made by Australian Olympians carrying the torch, including former swimming superstar Ian Thorpe, who will run the last leg and light the cauldron at the relay's end.
"I hope it's a peaceful protest and there is respect that this is the Olympic flame and it stands for a lot more than just the situation in China," he said.
The torch was kept in a secret location last night after arriving in Canberra on board an Air China A300 Airbus yesterday morning.
A small group of pro-China demonstrators gathered outside the airport perimeter fence.
In Sydney, police arrested two pro-Tibet protesters trying to unfurl a banner on the Harbour Bridge.
The relay was to start this morning after another dawn fireworks display, a free community breakfast and mass flight by hot air balloons, in Canberra for an annual festival.
It will end with a free concert beside Lake Burley Griffin tonight.
