From Deseret News archives:
Olympic flame sets off on final relay
The arrival of the torch marks one of the final steps in China's seven years of preparations for the games that have cost billions of dollars, and one which Beijing hopes will serve as the country's symbolic debut as a modern world power.
The torch will tour Beijing before ending up at Friday's opening ceremony for the games. It will be carried by a diverse group, including China's first astronaut in space Yang Liwei, movie director Zhang Yimou and basketball superstar Yao Ming.
"I'm very happy to be here," said Yang before the relay kicked off from the Forbidden City, home of Chinese emperors since the 15th century.
"That the torch is finally in Beijing is a realization of a dream we've had for a hundred years," Yang said, minutes before he took up the flame as its first torchbearer.
Basketball star Yao Ming carried the torch out of China's symbolic Tiananmen Gate, below the portrait of Chairman Mao.
The protests have mostly been in response to China's crackdown in March on anti-government riots in Tibet and to more general concerns over human rights issues in China.
On Wednesday, a pro-Tibet group said police detained four activists after they unfurled banners outside the Beijing National Stadium, site of the opening ceremony.
Three men and one woman from Students for a Free Tibet climbed two electricity poles in front of the stadium, dubbed the Bird's Nest, and unfurled the two banners at dawn, said Lhadon Tethong, the New York-based group's executive director.
One banner said "Tibet will be free" and the other said "One World, One Dream" the slogan for the Beijing Olympics with the words "Free Tibet" in Chinese.
After an hour, fire trucks pulled up and the protesters were peacefully led away by police and members of the internal security force, Tethong said.
"We have not had any contact with them because their phones are off," she said.
Sun Weide, the spokesman for the Beijing Olympics organizing committee, did not answer his telephone. Zhao Min, from the Beijing Public Security Bureau spokesman's office, said officials were trying to confirm the incident and had no immediate comment.
Comments
Torchbearers Liu Fang (L), a student, and Colin Giles (R) of Nokia exchange the flame as they take part in the Olympic torch relay along a section of the Great Wall in Badaling, outside Beijing on August 07, 2008 a day before the start of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The second day of the torch relay in Beijing was shrouded in a sea of haze.
- High school football: All-region teams 6:35 p.m.
- Aunt shouldn't enable drug habit 6:30 p.m.
- Dr. explains Mitchell review change 6:12 p.m.
- Stephanopoulos moves to GMA 6:09 p.m.
- DVDs include 'Stanwyck' and 'Ted' 6:07 p.m.
- Cool or hot, souls share same core 6:04 p.m.
- Christians voice belief in astrology 6:04 p.m.
- Utah churches in the news 6:00 p.m.
- Religion news around the world 5:58 p.m.
- Brubeck's religious music inspires 5:53 p.m.
- Letters: Global warming a lie
276 - TCU to play Boise in Fiesta Bowl
207 - BYU football: Bronco weighs in on Hall
195 - Palin signs books, chats with fans
169 - Utah/BYU rivalry can be more civil
151 - Cougars going back to Vegas
150 - Andersen apologizes for Jordan hoax
143 - Nude bathers cited for lewdness
137 - Max Hall wants to look ahead
130 - Jazz fall apart late at L.A.
110
Can you tell I just got out of a budget meeting with Gov Gary Herbert?
Well, I did it. I gave in to the seductions of the ridiculously sexy...
Bravo Developers & Builders, without them no one would have a house to live...
Miles, saying that Dwill is not an all-star is insane. That he needs to work...
I have been camping in that area also,(several years ago) and it was rough...
Actually Utah would NOT have been national champions in 2004 or 2008 in the...
I am surprised the tickets didn't give a preasigned seat. It had been that...
Thanks to Craig for some great football memories. He was the best offensive...
What about Martinez? He's won a few!
This diversity of belief in individuals is interesting. It just goes to show...
Much depends on the wood and how they store it. Oak or almond is good. Pine...
Not at all surprised.



You can be the first to comment on this story.