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October 11, 2008 11:29:27 PM CDT

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Olympic Torch Lit in Beijing

Posted Mar 31, 08 6:00 AM CDT in Sports,  World 

(Newser) – The Olympic torch was re-lighted today in Beijing’s Tienanmen Square in an elaborate ceremony marked by tight security, the AP reports. President Hu Jintao passed the flame to a champion Chinese hurdler in a televised event attended by some 5,000 people. Confetti floated over bright red seats and dancers from minority groups—including Tibetans—performed. The lighting begins a 20-country torch relay in a ritual expected to draw anti-China human rights protests around the globe.

The flame's 85,000-mile journey is the longest in Olympic history. Squadrons of police guarded the flame’s path into the city after it arrived from Greece via China Air, and vehicles and pedestrians were kept from the square. The flame next heads to Kazakhstan, and to London, Paris, and San Francisco over the next 10 days. Last week, China's state-sponsored TV cut away from lighting ceremonies in Greece when Tibetan protesters appeared.

Source Associated Press

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Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang holds the Olympic Torch in a sea of confetti after receiving it from President Hu Jintao during the Olympic torch lighting ceremony.   (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Chinese President Hu Jintao lights the cauldron during the Beijing 2008 Olympic torch lighting ceremony, Monday, March 31, 2008, at Tiananmen Square in Beijing.   (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Members of a greeting party wave Chinese and Olympic flags as the Olympic flame arrives at Beijing airport Monday March 31, 2008. The Olympic torch was re-lit Monday at an elaborate ceremony in Beijing...   (AP Photo/Greg Baker)
Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang holds the Olympic Torch during the Olympic torch lighting ceremony, Monday, March 31, 2008, at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China.   (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Acrobats perform at the Beijing 2008 Olympic torch lighting ceremony, Monday, March 31, 2008, at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China.   (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang holds the Olympic Torch in a sea of confetti after receiving it from President Hu Jintao, background, during the Olympic torch lighting ceremony, March 31, 2008, in Beijing.   (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Workers set up fence in Beijing's Tiananmen Square as part of preparations for the arrival of the Olympic torch to China Sunday, March 30, 2008.   (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
Chinese President Hu Jintao holds the Olympic torch after lighting the cauldron during the Beijing 2008 Olympic torch lighting ceremony, Monday, March 31, 2008, at Tiananmen Square in Beijing.   (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
A bearer holds the Olympic flame on its arrival in China, at Beijing airport, Monday, March 31, 2008.   (AP Photo/Greg Baker)
Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang holds the Olympic Torch after receiving it from President Hu Jintao, far left, during the Olympic torch lighting ceremony, March 31, 2008, at Tiananmen Square in Beijing.   (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
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China  • 2008 Beijing Olympics  • Tibet  • Beijing  • Olympic torch  • Hu Jintao  • Tiananmen Square  • ceremony


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