SEOUL -- The Olympic torch relay in Seoul, the 17th leg of its global tour, started at 2:00 p.m. (0500 GMT) Sunday after a launching ceremony at the Olympic Park.

Li Binghua, vice executive president of the Beijing Organizing Committee of Olympic Games (BOCOG), handed over the torch to Rah Jin-Koo, deputy mayor of Seoul.

Kim Jong-Kil, chairman of South Korea's Olympic Committee, received the torch from Rah, kicking off the 22-kilometer relay as the first runner.