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Olympic flame visits Great Wall of China on eve of Games
The Olympic flame made one of its final relays on Thursday on the eve of the Olympic Games opening ceremony as torchbearers carried it along the ancient Great Wall of China.
- Agencies
- Published: 11:36 August 7, 2008
Beijing: The Olympic flame made one of its final relays on Thursday on the eve of the Olympic Games opening ceremony as torchbearers carried it along the ancient Great Wall of China.
After a short ceremony at the landmark Badaling section of the heritage site, hundreds of fans waving yellow and red pompoms cheered on.
The 15-minute relay was accompanied by a lively parade filled with music, live drums and dancers.
The Great Wall visit brings the torch one step closer to ending its long and contentious global tour, which officially concludes on Friday night with the lighting of the cauldron during the opening ceremonies of the 29th games.
It is unknown where the flame will rest when it arrives at Beijing National Stadium, known as the Bird's Nest.
Eighteen runners carried the torch along the Great Wall as 2,008 gray pigeons were released in the air.
The spectacle marks one of the final steps in China's seven years of preparations for the games.
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