Beijing Olympic Games

Updated: 2008-08-05 13:00:58

(CHENGDU, August 5) — The Olympic Torch Relay ended in Chengdu at 10:41 a.m., when last torchbearer Yu Zhirong, a hero of the recent Sichuan earthquake, arrived at the International Convention Center to light the cauldron. Yu is a member of the 7716 PLA unit.

He sent out three helicopters on reconnaissance missions to the cities of Mianzhu and Dujiangyan just 40 minutes after the May 12 quake hit. The first pictures of the destruction were brought back on this first mission. Yu then went on to personally open up several airways to the Sichuan area, even under difficult weather conditions.

The flame traveled 13.2 kilometers via 315 bearers from its starting point of the Chengdu Export Processing Zone.

The flame’s next destination is Beijing, where it will be relayed August 6-8 before the main Olympic cauldron is lit during the Opening Ceremony.

Updated: 2008-08-04 11:24:43

(LESHAN, August 4) — Last torchbearer Pu Guoqiang, principal of a primary school in Wenchuan County, the epicenter of the May 12 earthquake that rocked Sichuan Province, arrived at the visitor’s square at Mount Emei just after 9:00 a.m., ending the Torch Relay in Leshan.

Pu, a Sichuan native, lost both his wife and mother-in-law in the devastating earthquake. Even after learning of their deaths, he continued to help rescue children from his school and was very active in post-quake rehabilitation efforts.

Pu was the last of 185 torchbearers in the 8.2km relay.

Picturesque Leshan is the hometown of many of China’s famous sports and cultural figures. Poet Su Dongpo and writer Guo Moruo were both born in Leshan. Nowadays, Leshan is called “Home of Chinese Swimming” due to the large number of Chinese swimming athletes that come from here. Most notably, Deng Guoying, the first Chinese to place first in a world sports competition, began his sports career in the mountains of Leshan.

The torch will travel next to Mianyang and Guanghan, where the relay will continue in the afternoon. On Tuesday, the torch will arrive in the Sichuan capital of Chengdu.

Updated: 2008-08-03 21:04:59 From: Xinhuanet

CHENGDU, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) — Amid cheers and a sea of flags, the Olympic torch started its “journey of solace and hope” in Sichuan on Sunday, nearly three months after a 8.0-magnitude earthquake devastated the southwestern province of China.

Before the relay in Guang’an City, the first stop of the Sichuan leg, a minute’s silence was held to honor the victims of the earthquake, which killed almost 70,000 people and left another 18,000 missing.

After the silence, deafening roars of “Rebuild Sichuan! Go China!” could be heard along the 7.3-km route.

“The arrival of the Olympic sacred flame has brought solace and hope to the Sichuan people,” said Wei Hong, vice governor of Sichuan, at a ceremony marking the beginning of the relay.

“It will also inspire our confidence and courage in rebuilding,” he said.

Sichuan is the last stop for the Olympic flame before it heads to Beijing for Games opening ceremony on Friday. It had originally been scheduled for June, but was postponed.

A total of 862 torchbearers, including 29 earthquake rescuers who were newly nominated, will take part in the relay.

“I believe my smile and confidence will drive home the message that we will build Sichuan as beautiful as it was,” said first torchbearer Jiang Min, a policewoman in Pengzhou city near the epicenter of Wenchuan.

Jiang, who lost 10 relatives, including her two-year-old daughter and her parents in the catastrophe, had moved the nation by her work on the front line of the relief effort.

“I will bring the Olympic spirit to my work and we can rebuild the homeland through our joint efforts,” she said after finishing her stretch.

Exuberant clusters of people were standing along both sides of the road, where shouts of “Go China! Go Olympics!” echoed.

Many had stickers of the Chinese national flag on their faces and wore red headbands.

A fresh 6.1-magnitude aftershock jolted Sichuan two days before the relay, injuring more than 300 people. However, the relay was held according to plan.

Leshan and the provincial capital Chengdu will also host the relay. Many of those displaced by the earthquake are expected to watch it.

“I was so moved to see on TV a slogan saying ‘Salute the people in the disaster areas’ on the roadside of the relay route,” said Wang Zhengyou, a Sichuan farmer who lost his land and house in the earthquake.

“It’s inspiring to see the torch touring in my hometown,” he said.

Millions of homeless people like Wang are moving from tents to temporary houses. The local government has vowed to provide shelters to all tent dwellers by Aug. 12.

Updated: 2008-07-15

(JILIN CITY, July 15) — Last torchbearer Wang Jinjun, director of Jilin Chemical Fiber Group, lit the cauldron at 3:23 p.m. on Tuesday, marking the end to the Olympic Torch Relay in Jilin City. The city of Yanji will host the Olympic flame next.

The launching ceremony was held at 2:00 p.m. amid thunderous applause from local spectators. Skater Wang Chunli, the first torchbearer, carried the torch from Jilin Municipal Square to start the Jilin leg of the Olympic Torch Relay.

Wang, who was born in 1983, has claimed more than 10 gold medals in Chinese national competitions and has also done well in international competitions.

A total of 108 torchbearers participated in the 7.7km-long relay.

Updated: 2008-07-15

(SONGYUAN, July 15) — Actress Bai Qing, the last torchbearer in Songyuan, Jilin Province, reached Dongzhen Square to begin the closing ceremony, which would mark the end of this leg of the Olympic Torch Relay at 8:47 a.m.

The relay got off to an early start, shortly after 7 a.m., as the Olympic torch will be traveling to Jilin City in the afternoon to begin the Torch Relay there.

Li Shu, former director of the Standing Committee of the Changchun People’s Congress, served as the first of 110 torchbearers.

Updated: 2008-07-16

YANJI, Northeast China, July 16 (Xinhua) — A paralyzed torchbearer hopes the Olympic spirit will influence physically disabled people’s mindset.

“The Olympic spirit — higher, faster, stronger — is especially important for us disabled people. We must pass the spirit to everybody that needs it,” said Zheng Rongzhe, a paralyzed torchbearer, after finishing the torch running in Yanji leg, northeast China’s Jilin province on Wednesday.

“Several days ago, we just organized a sports games for disabled people and drew about 400 athletes. All the events are suitable for them to take part in,” said Zheng. “We hope these competitions can help them pick up themselves and learned the never-give-up spirit.”

Zheng is a good example of the Olympic spirit.

Born paralyzed, Zheng battled difficulties to finish his medicine studies in the Yanji university, and set up a clinic of his own.

Since the clinic was set up in 1993, the kind-hearted youth has never charged the disabled or the elder when they come to see a doctor in the clinic. When it comes to the medicine, a huge discount is often given to these patients.

Zheng insisted on pushing his wheelchair himself in his Olympic torch run, saying that he wanted to showcase the best of himself.

Updated: 2008-07-15

(BEIJING, July 15) — Skater Wang Chunli carried the torch from Jilin Municipal Square this afternoon, marking the start of the Jilin leg of the Olympic Torch Relay.

The launching ceremony was held at 2:00 p.m. amid thunderous applause from local spectators.

A total of 108 torchbearers will participate in the 7.7km-long relay.

Wang, who was born in 1983, has claimed more than 10 gold medals in Chinese national competitions and has done well in international competitions.