Soldiers in ceremonial dress welcome the Olympic flame at Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina, at 17:00 local time (20:00 GMT) April 10, 2008. The Beijing Olympic torch run in Buenos Aires is due to begin on Friday after the San Francisco relay ended smoothly on Thursday despite route changes made to ensure the dignity of the Olympic flame and the safety of torchbearers. [Xinhua]

BUENOS AIRES -- The Olympic flame of the 2008 Olympic Games arrived at 17:00 local time (20:00 GMT) Thursday at Ezeiza international airport from San Francisco.

The Olympic flame is visiting for the first time Argentina's capital, which has dressed up to receive it. The torch relay on Friday will include 80 people in its 13.8 km tour throughout the city.

The icon of the Olympic Games arrived in the only Spanish speaking city of the 135 cities chosen for the 33-day 137,000 km world tour.

Buenos Aires is the ninth stop in the flame's world tour, the longest in the Olympic history.