Mayor Bertrand Delanoe said City Hall will display the banner because "Paris defends human rights all over the world."

Delanoe spoke on Wednesday at the announcement of the route for the torch relay, which will start at the Eiffel Tower.

David Douillet, a two-time gold medalist in judo, said torch carriers will wear badges as a "distinctive sign" celebrating free expression, without saying what will be written on them.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) promised to protest China's crackdown on demonstrations in Tibet. Robert Menard, the group's president, condemned China as "the biggest prison in the world" and said his members would wear T-shirts during the relay with the five rings of the Olympic logo depicted as handcuffs.

"(There is) a contradiction between the International Olympic Committee and human rights," said Menard, adding that not enough has been done by France's Olympic Committee (CNOSF) to pressure the IOC over China.

"The French Olympic Committee did not want us to reach an understanding with us (over Tibet)," said Menard, who was wearing the handcuffs T-shirt. "We will take action the day of the procession."

CNOSF president Henri Serandour backed Delanoe's banner initiative and called the procession "a message of peace," but urged RSF not to disrupt the relay because "respect must be shown to the athletes carrying this torch." About 80 athletes will carry the torch over a 28-kilometer (17.4-mile) route that snakes round the Trocadero, down the Champs-Elysees toward City Hall, then crosses over the river Seine to the left bank past the National Assembly, before ending at the Charlety track and field stadium.

Protests in Tibet last month then spread to other parts of China. The Chinese government said 22 people died in the violence and crackdown, but Tibetan exiles claim about 140 people were killed.

The violence has cast a spotlight on China's human rights record in the Himalayan region, and shattered the Chinese government's hopes for a peaceful run-up to the Olympics in August.

The Chinese embassy in Paris doesn't want the route to pass the French parliament.

"There have been many discussions with China's embassy.

Our position is to keep the route the same," Serandour said.

The Olympic Charter forbids any kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda during the games.

Douillet, the 1996 and 2000 Olympic champion, said the badge will carry "a sign that is known by everyone." He added that no French athletes had told him they wish to boycott the Aug. 8-24 games.

French pole vaulter Romain Mesnil wants athletes to wear green ribbons -- the color of hope -- in Beijing. The CNOSF won't allow its athletes to do that, but Douillet hopes the IOC will approve the badge.

"We have found a solution that suits the CNOSF and which I hope will suit the IOC," Douillet said.

Several athletes from around the world have already spoken out about China's human rights record.

India soccer captain Bhaichung Bhutia has said he won't carry the torch in the global relay, while Norwegian cyclist Thor Hushovd is considering a boycott of the opening ceremony.

Stephane Diagana, the 400-meter world champion in 1997 who is now president of France's national athletics league, will be the first to carry the torch on Monday.

"They are not fooled, they are not party to what is happening in China," Diagana said of athletes around the world. "I am happy to see that a lot of athletes are asking themselves questions."

Diagana called on the IOC to take a more prominent position with China.

"The athletes expect a lot, expect that the IOC plays its role," Diagana said. "The IOC is not pressuring China enough, at least not in a visible way.