Special report:   2008 Olympic Games 

The first torchbearer, Greek taekwondo athlete Alexandros Nikolaidis(R), silver medalist in the Athens Olympics, kindles the torch in hand of former Chinese swimmer Luo Xuejuan(L), Athens Olympics gold medalist, during the torch relay of the Beijing Olympic Games in Olympia of Greece on March 24, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

    OLYMPIA, Greece, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Luo Xuejuan, dubbed the "Queen in the Pool" in China before her retirement last year, felt proud as the first Chinese to bear the torch of Beijing Olympic Games here on Monday.

    "I feel so honored," said Luo, who won the only swimming title for China in Athens four years ago when she triumphed in the women's 100 meters breaststroke event.

    "As the first Chinese torchbearer, I understand that I'm not bearing it alone, but with all my compatriots," Luo added.

Athens Olympic champion swimmer Luo Xuejuan (R) runs during the torch relay of the Beijing Olympic Games in Olympia of Greece on March 24, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

    The 24-year-old Luo took over the torch from Greek Olympic taekwondo silver medalist Alexandros Nikolaidis, the first torchbearer, after his torch was lit by High Priestess Maria Nafpliotou at the Ancient Olympia archaeological site.

    Luo didn't regret missing the flame lighting ceremony held in front of Hera Temple since she had to wait for Nikolaidis at the exchange point.

    Luo, crowned world champion at both the women's 50 and 100 meters breaststroke in 2001 and 2003, announced her retirement in early 2007 due to health problem.

    "I've been looking for a way of my own to do something for the Olympic Games on home soil," said Luo. "Now I found it."

    "As a torchbearer, I think the Olympic spirit means purity, fair play, friendship, passion, peace and harmony," she added.

    The torch will be carried in Greece for six days, staying overnight in Mesologi, Ioannina, Vera, Thessaloniki and Lamia before it reaches Athens on March 30.

    The last torchbearer, Greece's 2004 Olympic triple jump silver medalist, Pigi Devetzi, will carry the torch to Panathenian Stadium on March 30, where it will be handed over to the Beijing Olympic organizers.

Olympic flame lights up spirit among Chinese sportsmen

    BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese sportsmen have been highly spirited after the flame for this summer's Beijing Olympic Games was lit up in Ancient Olympia on Monday.

    "It starts the torch relay and marks the countdown of the Olympic Games on our home turf," said former Chinese Olympian Lang Ping, now the head coach of the U.S. women's national volleyball team. Lang will be one of the torchbearers during the flame's international relay in North America. Full story

World athletes hail torch relay as flame lit up

    BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) -- World athletes hailed the torch relay of the Beijing Olympic Games as the flame was lit up in Ancient Olympia and started its international tour on Monday.

    The Beijing Olympics flame was lit in an official ceremony at the birthplace of the ancient Olympics. Full story

1st torchbearer: Beijing Olympic Games to be big success

    OLYMPIA, Greece, March 23 (Xinhua) -- As the first torchbearer of this summer's Olympic Games, Greek Olympic taekwondo silver medalist Alexandros Nikolaidis said here Sunday that the Beijing games will be a big success as their preparations are underway smoothly.

The head priestess(L), actress Maria Nafpliotou, kindles a torch in hand of Greece's Olympic silver medallist for taekwondo Alexandros Nikolaidis during the last rehearsal for the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Games in Olympia, Greece, March 23, 2008. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)  Photo Gallery>>>

    Nikolaidis appeared for the first time Sunday in the rehearsals for Monday's flame lighting ceremony of the Beijing Olympiad at Ancient Olympia. Full story