With the touchdown of the CA2008 flight at Beijing Capital Airport from Greece yesterday, the Olympic flame arrived at the host city of this year's Games.
No efforts were spared to ensure that the sacred flame reached the capital safely, before it set off for the global torch relay.
On the nine-hour flight from Athens, two lanterns holding the flame were hung on the wall up front in the cabin of the Airbus A-330, with guards in escort.
The guards themselves are part of a team of more than 30 employed for the torch relay.
Besides being the sentinels of the flame, they also escort runners of the torch, covering 40 to 50 km a day.
All are selected from throughout the country through physical and other tests.
Set up last August, the team has been undergoing the strictest training to make sure they are up to the task.
Required skills include physical strength, the languages and etiquette of different countries, and techniques for maintaining the flame.
To protect its sanctity and the purity of the torch relay, the flame must remain lit during the entire course of the relay - at least three lanterns are also prepared for its trip overland.
The lanterns use the same fuel as wind-proof lighters.
Minos Kyriakou, president of Hellenic Olympic Committee, accompanied the torch on its trip to Beijing. During the flight, he gave his good wishes to the Beijing Olympic torch relay.
"The Beijing Olympic torch relay will spread the flame to five continents, bringing the Olympic spirit of peace, mutual respect and unity to more people," Kyriakou said.
"The journey of the Beijing Olympic flame will surely further promote world peace, the Olympic ideal and the Olympic movement."
Source: China Daily
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