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Pass the Flame, Unite the World

The 2004 Athens Olympic Torch Relay

The Olympic Games are the quadrennial international celebration of youth, the  festival of human spring-time, bringing together all forms of muscular activity and all the countries of the world.  Pierre de Coubertin, the father of modern Olympic Games. We need not speak the same language; we need not know each other; we can be alike, but need not be the same.  People from different countries, from all walks of life, old or young, can be inspired and unite with the guide of the Olympic Spirit.

• The 2004 Athens Olympic Torch will reach 34 cities in 27 countries.
• In 35 days from June 4 to July 8, the torch will visit 5 continents: Oceania, Europe, America (North America and South America), Asia and Africa.
• This global Olympic Torch Relay will travel a distance of 78, 000 kilometres, of which 1,500 kilometres are to be covered by 3,600 torchbearers, and the other by planes, vehicles and boats.
• 260 million people all over the world will be able to see the Athens Olympic torch relay.
• The torch relay in Beijing will cover 55 kilometres, and visit five districts.
• 148 torchbearers will pass the Olympic Torch from Tian'anmen to the Summer Palace. 131 are Chinese torchbearers, of which 34 are nominated and selected from the Beijing Municipality, 20 from the Chinese Olympic Committee, 42 from the sponsor Coco-Cola, 35 from the sponsor Samsung, and the other 17 are international torchbearers nominated by Athens.
• On June 9, the torch relay in Beijing will last about 8 hours, and will pause to have a short rest of 30 minutes at the north gate of the Forbidden City and the Olympic Centre.
• Beijings oldest torchbearer is 73 years old, and the youngest is 14.
• This will be the first time that Olympic Torch visits in Africa and South America.
• This will be the first time for Olympic Torch unites the five continents represented by the Olympic Five Rings.
• This will be the first time that Olympic Torch arrives in China.
• Early in the morning of June 8, Beijing will receive the Olympic flame carried by a Boeing 747 and a grand welcoming ceremony will be held at Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. At 9am the next day, the first torchbearer will continue the Athens Olympic torch relay at the gate of The Great Hall of the People.