The torch relay for the 2006 Doha Asian Games will be held on
Friday and 23 top athletes will take part in the event, the Sports
Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong announced
yesterday.
The torch, currently in Guangzhou, will arrive at Macao today
before coming to Hong Kong. The torch will then be taken to Jakarta
on Saturday.
The Hong Kong relay, lasting 4.5 kilometres, will pass through
city landmarks, including the Cultural Centre and the Avenue of
Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui.
The torch relay will start from the UC Centenary Garden in Tsim
Sha Tsui and end at the Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai.
Asian Championship Masters gold medallist bowler Wu Siu-hong
will be the first torchbearer while Li Ching and Ko Lai-chak, who
won a silver medal in table tennis in 2004 Olympic Games, will
complete the relay.
Swimmer Sze Hang-yu, holder of nine swimming records in Hong
Kong, will travel across the harbour via Tin Hau vessel, which is
only used by chief executive and government officials.
This is the first appearance of the Flame of the Asian Games in
Hong Kong.
The torch relay began on October 8 in Doha, Qatar and would pass
through other cities, such as Esfahan, Teheran, Salalah, Muscat,
Abu Dhabi before going back to Doha, the host city on November
25.
Some 3,000 torch bearers were involved in the relay.
Some 2,500 primary and secondary students would welcome the
athletes in the Golden Bauhinia Square.
The relay event co-ordinator Kenny Chow said 40 tertiary
institutions students were invited to accompany the athletes, and
adequate security measures would be adopted to ensure the smooth
running of the event.
The Asian Games, in which 45 countries/regions are taking part,
will be held in Doha from December 1 to 15.
(China Daily?October 26, 2006)