Hong Kong First Stop on Chinese Soil for Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay
The spirit of the Olympic Games will radiate throughout Hong Kong when the Olympic flame arrives in the territory on April 30 and the Olympic Torch Relay is held on May 2.
The Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay in Hong Kong is organized by the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC) and co-organized by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government.
Speaking at a January 30 press conference on the torch relay, the Secretary for Home Affairs, Tsang Tak-sing, said the event would be a glorious chapter in Hong Kong sports history as the city co-hosts the Olympic Equestrian Events.
Hong Kong would be the first stop on Chinese soil after the Olympic flame was carried through 19 cities in the five continents.
The Olympic Torch Relay will take place on May 2 in Hong Kong with the launching ceremony and starting point at the Piazza of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui and the finishing point at the Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai.
The Olympic flame will be carried by 120 torchbearers through Kowloon, the New Territories and Hong Kong Island.
The route will pass through major landmarks and scenic spots of Hong Kong. They include Tsing Ma Bridge, Shing Mun River, Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Venue (Sha Tin), Sha Tin Racecourse, Avenue of Stars, Victoria Harbour, Legislative Council Building, Olympic Square in Hong Kong Park, and Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
A community celebration will be organized by the Home Affairs Department at the Sha Tin Racecourse.
To further enhance the Olympic atmosphere, roving exhibitions bearing the theme of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Torch Relay will be held in the 18 districts between March and May.
After the torch relay in Hong Kong, the Olympic flame will be transported to Macau and other major cities on the Mainland of China before arriving in Beijing on August 8 for the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
Updates on the torch relay, photos, and maps are available at http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/TorchRelay/.
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