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Tibet
Torch arrives on mainland China
Article published on the 2008-05-04 Latest update 2008-05-04 13:39 TU
Clashes between Pro-China and pro-Tibet supporters have marred the torch's journey - like here at the Olympic torch relay in Nagano
(Photo : Reuters)
China welcomed the Olympic flame on Sunday with a celebrity-packed start to the mainland relay, after a global journey marred by protests over Tibet. The arrival of the flame came as Chinese president Hu Jintao, expressed hope that talks with envoys of the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, will achieve "positive results."
Sunday's torch relay in Sanya, Hainan's popular tourist enclave, had a smooth run amid high security, as China did its best to ensure there would be no similar protests to the ones which have plagued the flame's global journey.
Speed skating Olympic champion Yang Yang was the first to carry the torch on the southern tropical island of Hainan, with basketball star Yi Jianlian and current Miss World Zhang Zilin also making appearances.
Ahead of the Olympic opening ceremony in Beijing on August 8, the torch will travel through more than 100 cities and scenic spots in China, including Tibet and Xinjiang where protests have erupted in recent weeks against Chinese rule.
The dialogue takes place seven weeks after protests against Chinese rule in
The torch's three-month run across China is likely to be less troubled, although disruptions could happen in Tibet or the western region of XinJiang. After three days on Hainan island the torch will travel to Guangdong province in the south of the country.
