At 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April
7, the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX
Olympiad (BOCOG) held a press conference at the Beijing Olympic
Media Center to give an update on the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay.
Under the theme of "Journey of Harmony," the Beijing Olympic
Torch Relay started its worldwide journey on April 1, 2008. The
sacred flame has so far passed through Almaty in Kazakhstan,
Istanbul in Turkey, St. Petersburg in Russia and London in Britain.
People along the Torch Relay route have extended the flame a warm
welcome and the relay is proceeding successfully as planned.
Firstly, the countries on the relay route have attached great
importance and given strong support to the Olympic flame. At the
first stop of the relay, the president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan
Nazarbayev, attended the commencement ceremony and delivered a
speech. He then ran as the first torchbearer. Seeing the Olympic
Torch Relay as a way to support the Beijing Olympics and to
rehearse for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, the city of St.
Petersburg attached great importance to the event and used
first-rate resources to facilitate a successful relay.
During the London leg of the relay, Prime Minister Gordon Brown
held a welcoming ceremony at No. 10 Downing Street and met with
British torchbearers. Princess Anne and the Lord Lieutenant of
Greater Britain attended and spoke at the celebration ceremony that
ended the day's events.
Secondly, all Torch Relay cities have given strong support for
the event. At each stop of the Olympic Torch Relay, the city's
local government has held a grand welcoming ceremony and various
celebrations. These cities have designed elaborate relay routes
that have demonstrated the unique features of their respective
cultures and landscapes. They have all provided first-class
organizational, security and logistic support for the success of
the relay.
Thirdly, the Olympic torch has received a warm welcome worldwide.
During the Almaty leg of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay on April
2, 2008, over 200,000 citizens filled the streets to welcome the
sacred flame in an atmosphere that was friendly and passionate. In
Istanbul, people wore their best outfits as they came out to
witness the Torch Relay. Seventy-thousand people celebrated the
arrival of the Olympic flame on the streets of St. Petersburg.
Although it was cold in London, with the temperature at zero
degrees Celsius, more than one thousand Londoners from all walks of
life participated in the launching ceremony of the London leg of
the Torch Relay. London artists gave brilliant performances amid
snow; passionate crowds lined the relay route.
Fourthly, athletes from all over the world have joined the
Beijing Olympic torch relay with great enthusiasm. "The torch for
me is not, therefore, simply about a relay around London, it is a
moment where the Olympics comes to the front of everyone's mind and
we celebrate the dedication of the young athletes who train day in,
day out to get to the games," said five-time Olympic rowing gold
medalist Sir Steve Redgrave in the Guardian. "The torch relay gives
the opportunity for people from all walks of life to touch the
Olympics, to feel the dream. The games are an experience like no
other, but only a few people get to go and experience their magic."
The first four legs of the Torch Relay have attracted more than
100 athletes; all of them are outstanding representatives who have
participated in the Summer or Winter Olympic Games. The first
torchbearer of Istanbul was the first Turkish ice skater to
participate in the Winter Games. The Olympic flame, she told
reporters, stands for peace, love and friendship, representing the
common dreams and desires of human beings. It deserves the respect
of the whole world, she told reporters.
Fifthly, the torch has been carried through a variety of means
that reflect the history, culture, scenery and passion of the
countries it's visited. The Torch Relay in Almaty started from
Medeo Mountain and torchbearers carried the flame while skiing and
while riding motorcycles, horses and camels. In Istanbul, the
Olympic torch was twice carried across the Bosporus Strait, which
runs between Asia and Europe. On its journey through London, the
torch was carried on foot, on an open-topped double-decker bus and
by light railway past some of London's most iconic spots.
Furthermore, the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay has received
great support from each National Olympic Committee, as well as
enthusiastic reports worldwide from the media.
There have been attempts made to disturb and sabotage the Torch
Relay by a small number of "pro-Tibet independence" activists.
The Olympic Torch Relay embodies the Olympic spirit and
represents the earnestness and excitement with which the world
awaits the Olympic Games. A small number of "pro-Tibet
independence" activists have attempted to sabotage the event.
During the Greece leg of the relay, a few activists attempted to
stop the relay by lying on the street. In London, a few protesters
planned and carried out several destructive actions. One "pro-Tibet
independence" activist tried to grab the torch and another
attempted to extinguish the flame when well-known U.K. television
presenter Konnie Huq was carrying the torch in northwest London.
Their actions were stopped by local police, although Konnie Huq
sustained a slight injury. During a lunch break, several "pro-Tibet
independence" activists got past security in an attempt to clash
with torchbearers and disturb the relay. The British police were
successful in preventing these efforts.
Local people in London strongly opposed the attempt to sabotage
the Torch Relay. And the behavior of "pro-Tibet independence"
activists has aroused resentment and received condemnation in
London.
As the highest symbol of the Olympic spirit, the Olympic flame
represents peace, friendship and progress. Under the authorization
of the International Olympic Committee, the Beijing Olympic Torch
Relay is sharing the passion and glory of the Olympics with the
world through its "Journey of Harmony." It has received a warm
welcome from people throughout the Relay.
We strongly condemn the actions of the few "pro-Tibet
independence" activists who have attempted to sabotage the Olympic
Torch Relay. The Olympic flame belongs to the world and these
actions are a serious violation of the Olympic spirit. They are
bound to fail and will surely arouse the resentment of peace-loving
people who support the Olympic Games.
The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games is not only a great event for the
Chinese people, but also a great event for the world. It is
important in spreading the Olympic spirit, promoting Olympic
culture and furthering the development of the Olympic Games. The
Beijing Olympic Games not only enhances China's understanding of
the world, but it also enhances the world's understanding of China.
It deepens the friendship between countries, promoting peace,
development and cooperation around the world.
All cities of the Olympic Torch Relay, both on and outside the
mainland of China, have made full preparations and have laid a
solid foundation for the smooth completion of the Torch Relay.
BOCOG would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all the Torch
Relay cities for the efforts they have made and to the people who
have participated in the event. We believe that the Beijing 2008
Olympic Torch Relay will receive the support of peace-love people
around the world and be a great success!
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Press release on the worldwide Beijing Olympic Torch Relay