Special report: 2008 Olympic Games

    SHENYANG, Northeast China, July 17 (Xinhua) -- The Olympic torch relay kicked off in Sheyang, the biggest city of northeastern China and also capital of Liaoning province, at 8:08 am local time on Thursday.

    Liu Hongtu, son of Liu Changchun, the first Chinese to participate in the Olympics, carried the torch as the first torch runner.

    The torch relay started at the International Horticultural Garden and will cover 10.4 kilometers.