The Olympic torch passed through the streets of Buenos Aires with relative ease on Friday amid a heavy police presence aimed at avoiding a repeat of anti-China protests that interrupted relays in other cities earlier this week.

Authorities deployed 1,300 federal police, 1,500 naval police and some 3,000 traffic police and volunteers in the Argentine capital to guard the torch during its lone South American appearance on the five-continent tour.

In this photo released by Argentina's Olympic Committee, a Chinese official holds the Olympic torch upon its arrival at Buenos Aires international airport on Thursday.
(Leo Zavattaro/Argentina's Olympic Committee/Associated Press)

Buenos Aires Mayor Mauricio Macri and Chinese officials lit the torch Friday afternoon before hundreds of applauding spectators at an outdoor ceremony.

The mayor passed the torch to the first runner, windsurfing medallist Carlos Espinol, who was flanked by Chinese bodyguards and heavyset police from the Argentinian navy. Another two layers of police protection surrounded the torch at all times.

Demonstrators in Buenos Aires had warned there would be "surprise non-violent actions" when the torch was run through the city, but there were no major disruptions.

Small groups of fenced-off demonstrators protesting China's human rights record exchanged jeers with hundreds of pro-China demonstrators. At least three water balloons were thrown at the torch during the relay, but the security detail easily batted them away.

The relay concluded with Tennis Hall of Famer Gabriela Sabatini running down a long carpet into the hall of an equestrian club, where she ignited a flame in a giant metal bowl, to warm applause.

"I'm supercharged with emotion," she said, her voice breaking. "It's so impressive to see how people have experienced this."

The relay also brought out members of Argentina's Chinese community to mark the Games coming to their homeland.

"We are here to celebrate the Olympics," said Shao Long Chen, a 19-year-old Chinese immigrant. "It's a great source of pride for us that the Olympics are being held in Beijing and that the torch is passing through Buenos Aires."

As for the protesters nearby, he said: "They're using sports to deliver a political message, and that's not right."

IOC won't press China on Tibet: Rogge

Protesters forced organizers in San Francisco to cut the torch run route in half at the last minute to thwart disruptions by large crowds. In Paris, the relay had to be suspended at least five times as demonstrators threatened to stop the torch run. Earlier in London, police repeatedly scuffled with protesters, including one who tried to grab the torch while another attempted to snuff out the flame.

The torch arrived in the Argentine capital Thursday under tight security. A city sports organizer, Francisco Irarrazabal, told the Associated Press that officials scrapped a planned photo opportunity on the airport tarmac with news agency photographers.

Eighty torchbearers are expected to take part in the scheduled 13.5-kilometre three-hour run, beginning Friday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Liu Qi, the head of the Beijing organizing committee, met with senior IOC officials Friday to assure them there will be no repeat of the protest disruptions.

The organizing committee "today did underline to us that they have taken steps to make sure any risk, if there is any, is mitigated and we're very confident and comfortable with that," IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies told the Associated Press.

The relay came as International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge said Friday that his organization will not press China on Tibet.

At a news conference to close a two-day IOC executive board meeting, Rogge said the organization would not pressure China on issues like Tibet and human rights, saying this "is the line that we do not have to cross," Rogge said.

Asked whether they would ask China to open dialogue on Tibet, Rogge said that was "a political matter in which the IOC cannot enter."

"This is a sovereign matter for China to decide," he said.

With files from the Associated Press