Torch relay ignites Olympic zeal

The three-day Beijing 2022 Olympic torch relay set off from the capital's Olympic Forest Park on Wednesday morning.

Stops include the Great Wall, Summer Palace, and places in northwestern Beijing's Yanqing district and Zhangjiakou city in neighboring Hebei province. About 1,200 torchbearers will participate.

The first torchbearer was China's first winter sports world champion, 81-year-old former speed skater Luo Zhihuan, followed by astronaut Jing Haipeng and aerospace engineer Ye Peijian.

Luo kept a torch as a souvenir after he ran 100 meters and transferred the flame to Jing.

Luo said he was ecstatic to be the first torchbearer of the Beijing Winter Olympics and would never forget the experience.

He participated in six world championships and took first place in 1963. But he never got the chance to compete in the Winter Olympics because China was not a member of the International Olympic Committee then.

"My dream of participating in the Winter Olympics, which I've had for more than 50 years, finally came true! I am really, really happy!" Luo said.

He also served as a torchbearer for the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics. At that time, he never expected the capital would one day also host the Winter Games.

He said that he believes China will win at least one gold in speed skating.

"I hope young athletes can perform well at the Games and inherit the older generation's spirit," Luo said.