MACAO -- With flags waving and lions dancing, Macao welcomed the flame of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games that arrived here on Friday night.

Yang Shu'an, executive vice president of the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee  holds the lantern that encases the Olympic flame as he steps out from the chartered plane. The Olympic flame arrived in Macao on Friday night. [Xinhua]

Stepping out from the chartered plane, Executive Vice President of the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee Yang Shu'an displayed the lantern which holds the Olympic flame.

"As the Olympic flame arrives in Macao for the first time in history, we would like to extend out gratefulness to the central government, and wish the Macao-leg relay and the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games a complete success," said Chui Sai On, secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao Special Administrative Region.

Chui and several other officials and leaders of the Macao Olympic Committee (MOC) attended the welcoming ceremony at the Macao international airport.

After its journey across 20 cities around the globe, the Olympic flame will begin its relay in Macao Saturday.

A total of 120 torch-bearers will participate in the relay, according to the MOC.

As scheduled, a show and fireworks will be staged Saturday to mark the historic Olympic torch relay in Macao.