Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev will run a 250m stretch of the torch relay after the Beijing Olympic flame arrives in Almaty, Kazakhstan on April 2, 2008, according to Chinanews agency.
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Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) shakes hands with his Kazakhstan counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev in Beijing in this 2004 file photo. Nazarbayev will carry Beijing Olympic torch in Almaty leg, according to Chinanews agency. [Xinhua]
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After a one-day stop in Beijing, the Olympic flame will fly to Almaty on Tuesday, beginning its 21-city journey outside the mainland until May 4.
"Almaty is fully prepared for the torch," said vice mayor Serik T. Seidumanov. "There will be a grand welcoming ceremony in the city's square and the local residents will perform a traditional dance."
Kazakhstan President Nazarbayev will also attend the ceremony and carry the torch, Chinanews.com reported. There will be a total of 80 torchbearers involved in the Almaty leg, including four Chinese relay runners.
Kazakhstan has spent $2.5 million for the preparations around the torch relay, according to Chinanews.com. Almaty has also invested in security, having as many as 5,000-armed policemen to watch over the the relay run.
Almaty is Kazakstan's largest city. It is also the first time in history for the city along the ancient Silk Road to welcome the Olympic torch.
