The Beijing Olympic flame will arrive in Shenzhen tomorrow for a 41.6-kilometer, 10.5-hour tour of the city. The torch will be carried by a total of 208 bearers who will run past city landmarks and well-known tourist attractions in Shenzhen before reaching its destination at Shenzhen Stadium at 6 p.m.
(8 a.m.-9:15 a.m.)
From the Citizens’ Center to Shenzhen International Garden and Flower Expo Park
The torch relay will set off from the Citizens’ Center in Futian District at 8 a.m. heading westward. After a launching ceremony, torchbearers, including Xiao Junfeng, a Shenzhen athlete and gold medalist in gymnastics at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, Dai Feifei, who won the championship in rhythmic gymnastics in the 21th World Universiade, Vice Mayor Liang Daoxing and a Daily Sunshine reporter Wu Bang, will carry the flame along Shennan Thoroughfare to the Shenzhen International Garden and Flower Expo Park by 9:15 a.m.
(9:15 a.m-10:30 a.m.)
From Window of the World to Shenzhen Science and Technology Park
The flame will be carried from the theme park, one of Shenzhen’s best-known tourist attractions, to the Shenzhen Science and Technology Park, which has a large number of prestigious high-tech companies including ZTE, Lenovo, TCL, Skyworth and Tencent.
Sun Hefeng, a rising basketball star, Zhang Xini, a hearing-impaired Henan girl who is dubbed China’s Hellen Keller, Sun Caiyun, a former pole vaulter, and Gao Zhengrong, a five-star volunteer, will carry the flame on this section.
An employee with Konka, surnamed Li, said he would welcome the torch and witness the historic moment tomorrow. “I would want to feel the atmosphere of the relay. It may be the only chance for me to get so close to the Olympic torch in my life.”
(10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.)
From Shenzhen Science and Technology Park to Nanshan No. 2 Foreign Languages School
Zhang Bigong, president of Shenzhen University, and Liu Shilan, a Chinese female chess player who won the WGM title in 1982, will be among the torchbearers on this section. Shenzhen University will organize 3,000-students to watch the relay.
(1 p.m.-2:20 p.m.)
From Nanshan No. 2 Foreign Languages School to the Mangrove Nature Reserve ecological park.
After a 90-minute lunch break at the school, the relay will continue on Binhai Thoroughfare at 1 p.m. Kang Yonggang, a former wushu champion in the 52kg category, and Yanming, China’s record-breaking swimmer, will join the torchbearers.
A resident surnamed Dong who lives in a housing estate along the section said she had bought a telescope for clearer view. “I can watch the torchbearers’ faces with it. It would be much more interesting than watching TV.”
The Mangrove Nature Reserve is China’s smallest State-level nature reserve, a haven for migratory birds.
(2:20 p.m.-4 p.m.)
From the Mangrove Nature Reserve to Huangdu Plaza
Tan Lihong, a former walking race Asian record holder, and Liang Lihua, a wushu champion, will carry the torch.
(4 p.m.-5:15 p.m.)
From Huangdu Plaza to Diwang Mansion
Film director Sun Zhou, Zhang Wei, a champion in rhythmic gymnastics in the 26th World Universiade, and Chen Guanyu, a five-star volunteer, will be among the torchbearers on this section. The torch will also pass the portrait of Deng Xiaoping, the architect of China’s drive for reform and opening up.
Diwang Mansion is Shenzhen’s best-known landmark building.
(5:15 p.m.-6 p.m.)
From Diwang Mansion to the Shenzhen Stadium
Wang Shi, president of Shenzhen Vanke Group, and Wang Qihong, a well-known rhythmic gymnastics coach, will carry the flame on the final leg of the relay. (Li Jing)