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Flame sparks beginning of National Games
By Ji Yuan (China Daily Shandong Bureau)
Updated: 2009-08-03 17:53

TAI'AN: The Eleventh National Games' flame was lit on Mount Tai on August 1.

Following Shandong province governor Jiang Daming's opening speech, Beijing Olympic champions Zhang Juanjuan and Wangfeng lit the first National Games flame at 10:27 am.

The flame, representing prosperity and peace, is to kindle the first National Games torch on Tiananmen Square on August 16.

The torch will travel across China to its final destination - Jinan - on October 15, the day before the official opening ceremony.