Thai princess welcomes Olympic flame delegation

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Source: CCTV.com | 04-19-2008 09:38

Thailand's crown princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has presided over a welcome party for the Beijing Olympic Flame delegation in Bangkok. It's the first time Thailand has hosted the torch relay.

Three hundred guests, including 80 torch bearers of Thailand, attended the ceremony on Friday evening.

Princess Sirindhorn says she is looking forward to attending the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympic Games on behalf of the King Bhumibol Adulyadej. She also says she believes the relay in Bangkok will run smoothly and will be successful.

The Beijing delegation chief, Jiang Xiaoyu, gave the Princess a Lucky Clouds Olympic Torch and thanked her for her support.

Starting at 3pm local time on Saturday, 80 torchbearers, including government officials, athletes, artists, students and Thai-Chinese community leaders, will participate in the ten-kilometer route through the city.

The torch will be carried past Bangkok's best known landmarks and historical sites.

The president of Thailand's National Olympic Committee Yuthasak Sasiprapha says the Olympic torch relay is a remarkable event for his country.

Jiang Xiaoyu gave the Princess a Lucky Clouds Olympic Torch.

He says government departments and Thai-Chinese communities have worked together to ensure the torch relay will be a success. It's estimated more than 30-thousand spectators will witness the torch relay in Thailand.

Editor:Liu Fang