Beijing Olympic Games Torch Relay (March, 2008)

These days, the expectant eyes of the whole world are focusing on the scared Beijing Olympic torch relay.

The Olympic Flame was kindled in Olympia, Greece, March 24, 2008. On that day, the flame out of a concave, burnished steel mirror was lit out of a concave mirror by the head priestess Maria Nafpliotou and was transported in a replica of an ancient urn to the ancient Olympia stadium where it was to ignite the first Olympic Games.

After six-day roam in Greece, the holy flame will reach Beijing On March 31. Then a welcome ceremony will be held at Tian'anmen Square, heart of the host City of the Olympic Games, one of the lanterns with the Olympic Flame will be kept aside.

After a reception in Beijing, the Olympic flame will begin its global tour of 135 cities around the world. The flame will visit 21 cities outside mainland of China across six continents and travel across 113 cities and regions of all provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in the mainland China until it returns to Beijing on Aug. 6, totally covering 137,000 km in 130 days and involving 21,780 torchbearers.

One of the highlights of this leg will be the attempt to bring the Olympic Flame to the highest peak in the world Mt. Qomolangma, known as Mt Everest in the West, in May.

As the President of the Beijing Organizing Committee of Olympic Games Liu Qi said, "The Olympic flame will radiate light and happiness, peace and friendship, and hope and dreams to the people of China and the whole world. Its rays will light up the starry skies during the Beijing Olympic Games."