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Olympic torch relay may cover Taiwan
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-03-09 10:18
BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- A top sports official on the Chinese mainland
has said that the mainland will "try its utmost" to include Taiwan in the torch
relay itinerary of the 2008 Beijing summer Olympic Games.
 "We are holding active consultations with the Beijing Organizing
Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games (BOCOG) about how to let the people in
Taiwan share the Olympic glory," said Liu Peng, head of the State General
Administration of Sport, on the sideline of the ongoing annual full session of
the 10th National People's Congress (NPC), the Chinese legislature.
"As I know, many people in Taiwan hope that the torch relay of the sacred
flame of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games can also cover Taiwan," Liu told the NPC
deputies representing Taiwan Province during a panel discussion.
However, he said that the exact route of the 2008 Olympic torch relay is not
finalized yet, and the final plan still needs to be approved by the
International Olympic Committee (IOC).
"The 2008 Games is a grand event for people on both sides of the Taiwan
Straits. There are many other things we can do in terms of cross-Straits
cooperation (for the Games)," said Liu.
The BOCOG said last month that the Beijing Olympics' torch relay was expected
to start in March 2008 and last until August 8, when the Games is scheduled to
open in the Chinese capital. The relay will involve some 15,000 torch bearers,
BOCOG sources said.
Liu also said that his administration is willing to facilitate the visit of
mainland sports stars and Olympic champions to Taiwan, as "many people in Taiwan
are eager to have face-to-face exchanges with them."
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