Olympic flame arrives at Yunnan

Source: Xinhua  |   2008-6-10  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

THE Olympic flame landed in Kunming, the "Spring City," yesterday, embarking on a three-day torch relay in Yunnan Province.

The opening ceremony started at 9am following a 30-minute ethnic drum and dance performance.

A one-minute silence tribute to the Sichuan earthquake victims was practiced before the first torchbearer Zhong Huandi, a long-distance runner with 10,000-meter and 3,000-meter titles at the Beijing Asian Games 1990, was handed the torch in the Garden of the World Horticultural Exposition, where the opening-up took place and the first 100 bearers ran.

Kunming hosted the 1999 world horticultural exposition and kept all the exhibits in the garden. The torch moved on to Dianchi Lake Tour Resort on vehicle by passing the Third Ring East Road, Kunluo Road, and Guangfu Road.

Then the torch relay continued to go along Dianchi Road, Saigon Wharf Road, Kangyi Leisure Garden, arriving at Yunnan Ethnic Village, which hosted the last 17 torchbearers and put an end to the 8.3-kilometer relay.

The last torchbearer was Jiang Shaomin, a 63-year-old gymnast who won two national titles and a sixth-place in the 15th world championships.

"Today, going together with other torchbearers and Yunnan residents, I am so pleased to carry the Olympic torch," said Jiang after lighting the cauldron at 10:45am.

"This tells us the Beijing Olympic Games is coming. As an athlete, I am proud of Beijing hosting the Olympic Games and I believe in a successful Olympic Games being presented.

"I am looking forward to athletes and coaches from all corners of the world coming to the Games. Through the relay, we can better understand each other between China and other countries and better support each other.

"Reflecting the difficulties slated in the way of reconstruction from the Sichuan earthquake destruction, I hope all the people stand side by side and heart to heart with the residents surviving from the disaster."

Because of its year-round temperate climate, Kunming capital of Yunnan, is often referred to by Chinese as the "Spring City." The torch relay is to take place in Lijiang City today and move on to Shangri-La County tomorrow.