Games torch relay finishes its Shanghai leg in style
Shanghai yesterday ended its two-day leg of the torch relay in an event marked by the city's flashy style, with elaborate choreography, massive crowds and no sign of controversy.
Officials estimated that more than 100,000 people turned out to watch the 200km run, which came shortly after three days of official mourning for victims of the May 12 earthquake in Sichuan province .
Throughout the two days, remembrance of the earthquake was pervasive, yet organisers stood behind a decision to press forward with the nationwide event amid calls to shorten or even cancel it. The torch heads to the garden city of Suzhou in Jiangsu province next.
Organisers have announced that the Sichuan leg will be shortened to a single day and delayed from next month until August, right before the torch goes to Beijing for the Games.
Shanghai held a moment of silence on both days, cancelled an evening fireworks display and picked four people involved in quake relief efforts as torch-bearers.
'The Shanghai people send our faith, strength and hope to the people in the disaster zone,' Shanghai People's Congress Vice-Chairman Hu Wei said.
Opposing voices were not heard, but a professor at Shanghai's Fudan University was among those who strongly backed the idea of cancelling the relay as the nation grieved for more than 50,000 earthquake dead and struggled to get aid to millions of survivors.
'China is capable of handling the remaining legs of the torch relay in the aftermath of the earthquake,' said Ge Jianxiong, who was also among the first to call for three days of mourning for victims. 'But it's not appropriate with the atmosphere of mourning.'
Tight security ensured there were no protests similar to those staged overseas by people opposed to Beijing's policies on Tibet and human rights. Torch-bearers were accompanied by three guards and followed by an additional two lines of security.
Along the relay route, police officers every few metres and even soldiers kept watch.
Spectators were mobilised by the government to turn out with instructions on how to behave, while others attended spontaneously. Cheerleaders guided the crowds in chanting such slogans as 'Go China'.
Among the more than 400 torch-bearers were athletes, entertainment figures and heroes. Actresses Li Bingbing and Zhou Xun and Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Ka-fai added star power.
Former women's soccer player Sun Wen, the first torch carrier yesterday, said: 'The Olympics not only ignites enthusiasm, it is also the dream of the Chinese people.'
Reflecting Shanghai's population, torch-bearers included foreign nationals and business executives, along with the party faithful. Some raised clenched fists, kissed the torch or turned their heads to the sky in a mixture of nationalism and mourning that now dominates the nation's mood.
Some torch-bearers were involved with earthquake relief work, including Shanghai's fire chief Chen Fei, who led a rescue team in the disaster zone. 'I am lucky to be a torch-bearer. But I feel ashamed at the same time. Many soldiers working with me in the quake zone are more qualified,' he said.
Jiaotong University stationed students from minorities dressed in traditional costumes at the gates of its Minhang district campus, including a woman wearing Tibetan robes.
