The Ningbo leg torch relay of the Beijing Olympic Games will be postponed
for three days till May 22 to mourn for the earthquack victims, local organizers
said yesterday.
Lao Jinlong, vice president of Ningbo Municipal Sports Bureau, said the torch
relay of Ningbo leg will be postponed as the State Council announced to set
today to May 21 as the Days of Mourning to memorize the people died in the
8-magnitude earthquake in China's Sichuan province.
"The government will fly the flag at half-mast. All public entertainment
activities will be cancelled during the three days of mourning including the
torch relay," Lao said.
Zhang Jinsong, a torchbearer, said "it is a terrible disaster and causes
great destruction. I hope the victims of the earthquake can overcome the
difficulties and reconstruct their homeland as soon as possible."
"I support the decision of postponig the torch relay unconditionally. We want
to show our best wishes to the people in the disastrous areas and the Chinese
people's courage to the whole world," said Yang Lingna, another torchbearer.
The Ningbo leg torch relay was slated for today, but will be postponed till
May 22. It's the fourth leg in South China's Zhejiang province.