OLYMPIA, Greece  A small group of protesters angered by China’s crackdown in Tibet upstaged the Olympic flame-lighting ceremony in Olympia, Greece, on Monday, calling for a boycott of the Summer Games in Beijing.

Image An actress playing a Greek high priestess held the torch with the flame for the Beijing 2008 Olympics during the lighting ceremony on Monday in Olympia, Greece. Credit... Aris Messinis/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

The brief disruption occurred as Liu Qi, president of the Beijing Organizing Committee, was addressing thousands of spectators and dignitaries at the site of the ancient Olympic Games. It was broadcast live by Greek television, but China state television cut away to a prerecorded scene.

The Athens chapter of the rights group Reporters Without Borders said three of its members had staged the protest.