On Aug 16, the torch relay opening ceremony of the 5th Special Olympic Games of the People’s Republic of China and Fuzhou Torch Relay started its first run in Fuzhou.

World-class athlete Chen Zihe and ambassador of the 5th Special Olympic Games Lin Hangliang ran the first leg. Themed “Passing harmony and love in Heisey,” the 5th Special Olympic Games Torch Relay aims to attract more people to pay attention to the Special Olympics and make more people care about the disabled.

Fuzhou Municipal Committee and Deputy Mayor Yang Yimin lights the cauldron and the first torch. Torch Relay in Fuzhou was composed of 31 legs and each is to be run by a torchbearer and a disabled person. It started from the north entrance of Minjiang Park and will end at Linjiang Square, where the closing ceremony will be held. The torch relay distance is about 2.4 kilometers, and it will take about an hour to finish it. The last torch in Fuzhou will be run by Xienan, vice director of Fujian Musical Theater as well as the national level director, and Liang Sijia, East Asia regional emissary of the 1st international Special Olympic Games.

Subsequently, deputy secretary-general of Fuzhou Municipal Committee Zheng Jianping will lead the flame back to the cauldron, marking an end to the “Harmonious Flame” torch relay in Fuzhou. Later, officials of the Special Olympic Games Organizing Committee will pass the torch to Putian, the next host city of the torch relay. 

Fujian province has selected 270 torchbearers and Special Olympics torchbearers. Torchbearers were selected from among the party and government leaders who support the handicapped cause, entrepreneurs, disabled volunteers, Special Olympics families, special education teachers, policemen and other groups.

Special Olympics torchbearers were selected from the local Yu-Chi School and “Happiness Home.” Special Olympic Games torch relay will take turns in Putian, Quanzhou, Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Longyan, Sanming, Nanping, Ningde and at last return to the host city—Fuzhou.

By Hu Meidong & Zhu Xingxin & Luting