Torchbearers Kaul Dharmendra (L), manager of Vodafone Global Enterprise Ltd. in Hong Kong, and Liu Hui, a marketing professional from Dongguan, display their torches in Shenzhen yesterday.Xinhua
Hundreds of residents gathered at the summit of Lianhua Hill yesterday morning to witness the Asian Games torch relay in Shenzhen.
Mayor Xu Qin ignited the torch with the Asiad flame and passed it to the first runner, Liu Gang, the rifle shooting champion at the 2006 Doha Asian Games. Liu and 79 other runners each ran a distance of 100 meters around Futian CBD.
I arrived at the square at 6 a.m., said Wang Yuqin, a 65-year-old resident, who performed a fan dance along with other seniors before the relay started.
Wang said she hoped to perform during the 2011 Universiade in Shenzhen to show the world the vigor of the city s older people.
Lu Ruifeng, the city s executive vice mayor, said: It is Shenzhen s honor and pride to witness and be a part of the Asian Games torch relay.
The torch finally arrived at the Kite Square at Lianhua Hill Park, carried by Zhu Qingshi, founding president of the South University of Science and Technology of China.
Following the torch s arrival a gala was held.
The torch relay is due to continue in Huizhou today and end in Guangzhou on Nov. 12 when the Games open. The Games are expected to be attended by 12,000 athletes from 45 Asian countries and regions.
(By Martin Li)
