Olympic torch relay back on track after China earthquake
The march toward the Beijing Olympics got back on track Thursday with a minute of silence, followed by the resumption of the torch relay after a three-day mourning period for thousands of earthquake victims.
The torch relay restarted on the dock of a container terminal in the eastern seaport city of Ningbo, then travelled through the city amid huge but orderly crowds of people, many waving the crimson national flag and decked out in Olympics T-shirts, hats and headbands.
"What's not to be proud of? This is the pride of our country," said Zha Xiuxie, a 43-year-old factory worker, speaking about the relay. "It was the longest mourning period ever for our country. Now we can move forward."
New hope: Officials carry the Olympic Flame and Beijing Olympic torch during torch lighting ceremony at Ningbo Port in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province
Olympic organizers said they would delay the torch's visit to Sichuan - which bore the brunt of the 7.9 magnitude quake that struck May 12, killing more than 50,000 and leaving some 5 million homeless.
Instead of mid-June, the relay would now take place August 3-5, just before the Olympics open on August 8.
The torch-lighting ceremony Thursday, held beside giant cranes used to move containers on and off of ships, began with a call for a minute of silent commemoration for quake victims.
"Your love is our hope," said the first torchbearer of the day, crane operator Zhu Shijie. "We all must fight the earthquake together."
Organizers scaled down the celebratory, triumphant tone of the relay after the disaster. They halted it in the nearby scenic city of Hangzhou during the three-day national period of mourning from Monday to Wednesday.
Crew members watched from the deck of the cargo ship MSC Rita, berthed beside the ceremony site. As the torch was lit, it sounded its horn, while members of the audience waved flags and quietly applauded.
Off again: A torchbearer, center, runs under the cargo cranes at Ningbo Port
Strong sea breezes briefly extinguished the torch, but it was relit to quiet cheers from the crowd.
"After the earthquake, we felt very sad and wanted to show our sympathy," said Dong Juan, a 25-year-old city government worker.
"Now it's time to stand up together. I'm confident that the Olympics will unite us and we can overcome all these challenges," she said, flags in hand and a Chinese national flag sticker on her left cheek.
Flags, which were kept at half-staff during the mourning period, were flying at full-staff Thursday. Corporate sponsors such as Coca-Cola, Korean electronics company Samsung and Chinese computer maker Lenovo Corp. were also back displaying their logos.
Remembering: Guests offer a minute of silence for the Sichuan earthquake victims during torch lighting ceremony
The torch was to remain in Shanghai on Friday and Saturday, and then travel on to neighboring Jiangsu province.
So far, the torch has had a smooth relay since returning May 4 to mainland China, uninterrupted by the protests over Tibet and human rights that dogged parts of its international tour.
China's leadership has sought to use the Olympics to showcase the country's achievements and rally national unity.
The torch relay, which has traveled to all corners of the globe and to the top of Mount Everest, has been in a low-key event in previous Olympics. In China, it has played a crucial role in the buildup to the games but has stumbled as a public-relations tool.
