HANGZHOU, CHINA (AFP) – China launched the torch relay for its Covid-delayed Asian Games yesterday with thousands of people lining the streets of the host city Hangzhou.
Fans waving miniature national flags packed into the area around the city’s West Lake several hours before the start of the 9am launch ceremony.
A pair of top officials then ignited the sleek metal torch before a succession of national luminaries paraded it through the streets. The Asian Games start in Hangzhou, a city in eastern China famed for its elegant temples, canals and bridges, on September 23.
Hangzhou had been due to hold the Games in September last year but they were postponed.
The relay will run through 11 cities in the region with over 2,000 people taking part, before ending up back in Hangzhou on September 20.
Participants yesterday – all clad in white tracksuits with red trim – included former swimming world champion Luo Xuejuan and Chief Executive Officer of Hangzhou-based tech giant Alibaba Daniel Zhang.
This year’s Asian Games is set to be the largest edition ever with 12,500 athletes from 45 countries and regions.
