Athens Olympic torch makes it debut at the Great Wall

Citizens of Beijing cheer for the arrival of Olympic flame

The Athens Olympic flame makes its Beijing debut atop the Great Wall at the Mutianyu section this morning, just hours after it arrives in China in a special plane.

As part of a cultural event themed "From Olympia to the Great Wall: Share the Experience," an Olympic torch was displayed to a large audience who have gathered at the Great Wall. Among them are 28 ordinary Beijing families which are either related to the Great Wall, or to torches of any kind or are enthusiastic about the Olympic Games. They were selected from Beijing's urban and suburban districts by Beijing Evening News, one of the event sponsors, in collaboration with the women's federations in the Chinese capital. The number 28 implies that the 2004 Games is the 28th in the modern Olympic history.

Before the torch arrived at the Great Wall, a variety gala show featuring Peking Opera arias and symphonic music was held. Twenty-eight artists and children also jointly paint a picture entitled "Flame on the Great Wall."

Source: beijing-2008.org