PARIS - The Beijing Olympic flame left London and arrived at the Charles De Gaulle airport at 11:40 pm of Sunday local time, preparing for its fifth stop of the world journey.
Two flame guards show the lantern which holds the Olympic flame at the airport in Paris, capital of France, April 6, 2008. Paris is the fifth stop of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay outside the Chinese mainland. [Xinhua]
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Chinese Ambassador to France Kong Quan and French Olympic Committee officials greeted the arrival of the flame.
Vice president of Beijing Organizing Committee of Olympic Games Jiang Xiaoyu led the flame delegation and made a brief exhibition of the lantern which encases the sacred fire.
The Beijing Olympic torch relay in Paris on Monday is a good way in memory of Paris-born Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of modern Olympic movement.
The Olympic torch will pass major landmarks and scenic spots of Paris including the Eiffel Tower, the Arch of Triumph,Champs Elysees Avenue, the Concorde Square, Le Louvre museum and Cathedral of Notre Dame.
French Olympic champion Marie-Josee Perec, Portugal forward Pedro Miguel Pauleta and badminton player Pi Hongyan are among the 80 torchbearers who will follow Coubertin's footsteps to spread the Olympic spirit.
