Special report:
2008 Olympic
Games
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Gonpo (L), 75-year-old Tibetan
mountaineering hero and the first torchbearer, receives the torch from Qin
Yizhi, secretary of the Lhasa city committee of the Communist Party of
China, during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Lhasa, capital
of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, on June 21, 2008. (Xinhua
Photo)
Photo
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BEIJING, June 22 -- The torch relay for the 2008
Beijing Olympic Games has run across Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous
Region.
The relay in Lhasa began at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning
at the square in front of the city's famous garden, the Norbu Lingka.
A minute of silence was observed to remember the
victims of the Wenchuan earthquake a month ago. Local authorities say the
arrival of the flame is a great boost to the solidarity of the different ethnic
groups in the autonomous region.
Qin Yizhi, vice chairman of Tibet Autonomous Region,
said, "The passage of the flame across Lhasa will further enhance the patriotism
of all ethnic groups and stimulate their enthusiasm to make greater contribution
to the social progress in Tibet. Let's stick to the Olympic spirit of peace,
friendship and progress and hold high the Olympic torch symbolizing harmony and
glory. Wish all the best to our country, and a great success to the Beijing
Olympic Games."
The cloudy day cast no shadows over local enthusiasm.
The torch was lit and passed over to local leaders, amid cheers and thunderous
applause.
The first torch bearer was 72-year-old Gongbo, a
noted Tibetan mountaineer. This run featured 156 torchbearers, 75 of them
Tibetan. The route covered 9.3 kilometers and ended at Potala Square.
During the two-hour relay, the flame kindled on the
top of Mount Qomolangma on May 8th reunited with the main torch.
The next destination for the Olympic torch relay is
Qinghai Province.
(Source: CCTV.com)
Tibet confident on security during
Olympic torch relay
LHASA, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The Tibet Autonomous
Regional Government was confident to have a safe and successful Olympic torch
relay on Saturday, said Palma Trily, executive vice chairman of Tibet, here on
Friday. Full story
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