Athens Olympic torch relay in L.A.

Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone has kicked off a star-studded Olympic torch relay in Los Angeles on June 17.

That began a relay through Los Angeles communities rich and poor, including Westwood, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Korea Town and Boyle Heights, culminating at Dodger Stadium.

Stallone was the first of nearly 150 runners carrying the flame toward Dodger Stadium, each one using their torch to ignite one held by the next runner.

Carriers included everyday folks as well as celebrities such as Ellen DeGeneres and Tom Cruise and Olympic stars like Janet Evans and Rafer Johnson.

The flame arrived overnight from Mexico. It will visit the previous U.S. Summer Olympic cities of St. Louis on Thursday and Atlanta on Friday, then travel through New York on Saturday and on to Montreal on Sunday.

After that it will head overseas again, on its way to Athens for the Summer Games August 13 to 29.

Source: China Radio International