BUENOS AIRES -- Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee executive vice president Liu Jingmin said on Friday that Chinese "are deeply moved by the passion and friendship" of Argentines during the Olympic torch relay in Buenos Aires.

"Chinese people are united with the rest of the world," said Liu Jingmin, also Beijing's vice mayor, during the relay's closing ceremony.

The Olympic flame's presence in the Argentine capital "has made us more united" with a "country known in China for its soccer magic and its tango," said Liu Jingmin.

Meanwhile, Buenos Aires mayor Mauricio Macri hailed the success of the torch relay.

"It was successful. Everything was very nice, perfect. As a city and country we gave a good image to the world," said Macri.

Macri added that "sports have nothing to do with politics."

Former tennis star Gabriela Sabatini capped the relay by running down a long carpet into the hall of an equestrian club, where she ignited a flame in a giant metal bowl.

Buenos Aires is the seventh city toured by the Olympic flame, which is heading to the African city of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.