Special report:
2008 Olympic
Games
by sportswriter Zhang Rongfeng
MUSCAT, OMAN, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The Olympic flame
went back to Asia on Monday in Mascat relay, lighting the night of Oman capital
in the only stop of Arab world.
Grand celebration was held in Al Qurm National Park.
Thousands of spectators cheered the lighting of cauldron and a great deal of
firework was set off illuminating the sky.
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Artists cheer during the ceremony for
the torch relay in Muscat, Oman, April 14, 2008. Muscat is the ninth stop
of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay outside the Chinese
mainland. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>> |
Traditional Arabic dance of crutch and drum beating
were staged in the celebration site amongst thundering cheers and screams.
The governer of Mascut province Sayyid Al-Mutassim
bin Hamoud al-Busaidi and vice president of BOCOG Liu Jingmin delivered speech
at the ceremony.
"It has a long history for the two countries to
exchange trade and communications," said Liu.
"It's as early as eighth century, the 'silk road' and
'spice road' on the sea connected two peoples together. The ancient boat of
Suhar pushed the trade relations and marked the long-standing friendship of the
two countries."
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The last torchbearer Habib Abdulnabi
Macki, vice chairman of the Oman Olympic Committee (OOC), arrived at the
floating theater of the Qurm Natural Park and lit the cauldron in Muscat,
Oman, April 14, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>> |
The city relay started from Al Bustan, six kilometers
east from Muscat, where the duplicate of ancient Suhar sailing boat is located.
The ancient Suhar boat had visited Guangzhou, China
1200 years ago, so starting from the "Suhar boat" duplicate marked a long
connection and friendship between the two countries.
"The renewed Suhar visited Guangzhou, a Southern city
of China, in 80's of last century. It's a repeat of ancient pioneering
navigation and it's a symbol marking long friendship between the two countries,"
said Fatik Bin Fahar, undersecretary of Ministry of Heritage & Culture, who
was the day's second torchbearer.
Hundreds of pupils chanted "China, China" through the
Sidab Street as a special way of greeting the Olympic flame.
The relay went through 20km, passing Sidab Harbour,
Al Alam Palace, Muscat Gate Museum, Old Merchants Houses, Al Mina Rings to reach
the celebration place Al Qurm Natural Park.
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Torchbearer Habib Macki holds up the
torch during the torch relay in Muscat, Oman, April 14, 2008. Muscat is
the ninth stop of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay outside the
Chinese mainland. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>> |
Sayyid Shihab bin Tareq al Said, advisor and cousin
of Omani Sultan Qaboos bin Said, and former president of Oman Football
Association.
"I am so proud to see Omani athletes are able to pass
the torchof Olympic flame. I am so proud to see Muscat becomes the sole stopover
of Olympic flame in the Arab countries," said Tariq.
"The Olympic Games is a widely shared festival for
peoples from all around the world, which is inevitably promote intercommunion of
different nations.
"The Olympic spirit will push forward the value of
friendship and peace, closing the gap of different nations," he added.
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Torchbearer Moosa Mohamed (R) lights the
torch for the next torchbearer Ahmed Darwish Al Balushi during the torch
relay in Muscat, Oman, April 14, 2008. Muscat is the ninth stop of the
2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay outside the Chinese mainland.
(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>> |
The honor of lighting the cauldron was entitled to
Macki Habib, vice president of Oman Olympic Committee.
Rahma Marhoon, an athlete for the Beijing
Paralympics, was the only disabled torchbearer. "I don't know much about China
in the past, but now I got a chance to visit China," said Marhoon.
"It's a good chance to learn about China. I believe
the Beijing Olympic Games will be a great success. Each Olympic Games get
progress from the last one, so it's the same for Beijing Games."
When asked about the relay disruption accident in
London and Paris, Marhoon joked that she had to hold her torch firm. "It's quite
safe here, I don't need to worry about that," she said.
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Torchbearer Wu Peijuan runs with the
torch during the torch relay in Muscat, Oman, April 14, 2008. Muscat is
the ninth stop of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay outside the
Chinese mainland. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>> |
Muscat is the capital and largest city of the
Sultanate of Oman. It is the largest city in the Governorate of Muscat. The
governorate of Muscat had an estimated population of 600,000. The greater
metropolitan area of Muscat, also known locally as the "Capital Area", currently
covers an area of approximately 1500 square kilometers.
Muscat is remarkably green, with tree-lined main
streets linking the various districts, several sizable public parks, and grass,
shrubs, and flowers decorating many traffic circles and other public areas.
The Olympic flame is leaving for Islamabad, Pakistan
capital, on Tuesday for its 10th leg of global journey.