The Sanya leg of the Beijing Olympic torch relay has successfully concluded. A resort city on the southernmost tip of China's Hainan Province, Sanya took great pride in hosting the first leg of the torch relay on its return journey to the Chinese mainland.
After stopping in 19 cities across five continents, the Olympic flame is back on the Chinese mainland. The sacred flame lit up the Olympic spirit for the people of Sanya. Sharing in one dream, crowds of local people and tourists lined the route, cheering to show their support for the approaching Summer Games.
This leg of the relay began on Phoenix Island at 9:30 in the morning.
Luo Baoming, Governor of Hainan Province said "With the blessing of peace-loving people all over the world and eagerly anticipated by 1.3 billion Chinese people the Olympic flame symbolizing peace, friendship and hope will travel across China from Sanya. We feel greatly honored and proud."
China's first winter Olympic champion, short-track speed skating star, Yang Yang, was the first torch bearer in Sanya. She won two gold medals at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, ending China's gold medal drought at the Winter Olympics.
A total of 208 torchbearers ran during the route of more than 30 kilometers. They passed the Crown of Beauty Center, Haiyue Square of Sanya Gulf, Haihong Square. Finally, movie star Jackie Chen and local official Pu Huifang carried the flame together to the scenic spot of Tianya Haijiao, the end this leg of the relay.
After Sanya, the flame will travel to Wuzhishan city on Monday, and arrive in Haikou, the capital city of Hainan Province on Tuesday.
(CCTV May 6, 2008)