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Olympic flame lights passion in Hong Kong
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-05-02 19:19

 

 

Lee, popularly known as "San San", was born in Cheung Chau and started windsurfing aged 12. Over the years, Lee won many international competitions, including the first-ever Olympic gold medal for Hong Kong, in the women's mistral boardsailing class, at the 1996 Olympics and the first champion in the Asian Games representing Hong Kong.

Wong Kam Po, a world champion cyclist, wrapped up the 26km relay at the Golden Bauhinia Square. Wong won golds in the National Games of China (1997 & 2001) and the Asian Games (1998 & 2006). His 1997 win of the Philippine Marlboro Tour was the only championship won by a non-Filipino in the event.

Movie stars and pop singers, including Jacky Cheung Hok-Yau, Andy Lau Tak-Wah, Eason Chan Yik Shun and Kelly Chen, added fuel to the spectators' excitement.

Cheung is a Hong Kong singer and actor from the mid-1980s to the present. The Chinese-language media refer to him, Aaron Kwok, Andy Lau and Leon Lai as the Cantopop Four Heavenly Kings.

Cheung is sometimes dubbed the God of Songs, a title which was once owned by another Cantopop singer Sam Hui. His successful music and acting career has made him one of Hong Kong's icons. Cheung was elected by the Time Magazine as one of the 25 most influential persons in the new Hong Kong in 1997.

Andy Lau Tak-Wah is a Hong Kong Cantopop star, movie actor and producer. He has been Hong Kong's most commercially successful film actor since the 1990s.

Andy Lau has since appeared in more than 100 films, and has a huge fan base throughout Asia with the success of both his onscreen performance and his musical career. He is a very good singer. Andy Lau is best known for his (often) recurring roles as a "Heroic Gangster."

"I was a bit nervous today. The big crowd is not a surprise for me for all the people I met told me they would come to the street to see the torch relay, but when you realize you are holding the Olympic flame and passing the torch for the Beijing Games, you just can't control your nerves," said Lau, who was the fourth to carry the torch.

"It's a recognition and a show of respect for us artists to be selected as torchbearer. That's really encouraging.

"I would go to watch the Beijing Games for sure. Luckily I have got tickets for the opening ceremony and a couple of semifinal tickets, but tickets for my favorite sports like 110m hurdles, volleyball and diving are not available yet," said Lau.

Kelly Chen is a Hong Kong Cantopop singer and actress. She is also credited as Chen Huilin.

"The torch is heavy and pretty. I like it very much, so I decide to fix it at the gate of my house," said Chen.

"It's would be great for the flame to light on so that I can be used for home blessings," Chen said for kiding.

Yu Cuiyi, quadruple gold medalist in fencing in the Athens Paralympics, ran in the ninth leg.

"I feel nervous in the moment of touching the torch. It moved me more than the last Paralympics did," said Yu, who was among "Ten Outstanding Youth of Hong Kong" in 2007.

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