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Warm reception for torch in Sichuan

— Photo: Xinhua

Indomitable spirit: The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games torch relay in Guang’an City, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, on Sunday.

GUANG’AN (Sichuan Province): The Olympic torch relay wound up on Sunday morning in Guang’an City, the first leg in the earthquake-hit Sichuan Province in Southwest China. The final torchbearer Wang Jianjun, also Party chief of Guang’an, lit the ceremonial flame cauldron, which marked the end of the 90-minute 7.3-km route relay.

A total of 189 torchbearers, aged between 15 to 85, took part in the relay in Guang’an, famous as the birthplace of Deng Xiaoping, architect of China’s reform and opening up drive. The starting point of the Guang’an torch relay was the Exhibition Hall of Deng Xiaoping’s former residence.

Following a minute’s silent tribute to those killed in the deadly earthquake that hit Sichuan on May 12, the torch relay started. The first torchbearer was Jiang Min, a policewoman in Pengzhou city near the epicentre of Wenchuan. Ms. Jiang, who lost 10 relatives including her two-year-old daughter and parents in the catastrophe, had moved the hearts of all the Chinese by standing at the forefront of relief efforts. “My stretch is just more than 30 metres. But it is one of the most important and unforgettable stretches of memory in my life,” Ms. Jiang told Xinhua. “I want to tell the whole world that Chengdu [the provincial capital] is still beautiful and Pengzhou is still beautiful,” she said. “I will bring the Olympic spirit to my work and we can rebuild the homeland through our joint efforts.” Another torchbearer Tang Lin, who was the Olympic judo champion at the Sydney Games and is currently a judo coach, said he was really honoured and pleased to carry the torch.

Holding Chinese and Olympic flags, thousands of people lined along the route and greeted the torchbearers with applause and cheers. Many held banners with the Olympic slogans like “One World, One Dream.”

Guang’an lies between the hills of central Sichuan and the gorges areas of the east. Guang’an was the first leg of the torch relay in Sichuan. Following it, Leshan and Chengdu would also hold the torch relay. Sichuan was severely hit by an 8.0-magnitude earthquake on May 12. The death toll from the quake has reached nearly 70,000, while nearly 20,000 people are reported missing. After Sichuan, the Olympic flame will arrive in the host city Beijing on August 6, two days prior to the opening of the Games. — Xinhua

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