Bangkok official Anant selected first Olympic torchbearer
18/4/2008 17:05
Being selected as the first torchbearer in the Bangkok leg of the global
tour of the Beijing Olympic torch relay, Bangkok official Anant Siripasraporn
could not hide his excitement when he appeared before media yesterday at a press
conference by Thail Olympic Committee.
Anant is representing Bangkok
Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to run the first leg of the Olympic torch
relay in the Thai capital, one of the 21 cities in the global tour outside
China's mainland.
"I'll be the first torch runner in the Bangkok relay," said
Anant in an interview with Xinhua, with a proud smile. "I've been so very
excited even in my dreams ever since the moment they told me I was picked for
this special honor. It reminded me of the remote day when I learned I was
admitted to my dream university. I phoned my family, held a feast for my friends
and received congratulations from all my acquaintances for the good news, just
as I did at that time."
"Beijing's holding Olympics is a historical event for
the world; Bangkok's being part of the Olympic Torch Relay is a historical event
for Thailand; while for me, being the first torch runner for Bangkok will
definitely a historical moment in my lifetime," said Anant.
The BMA is
expecting an estimated more than 30,000 spectators to welcome the Olympic torch
relay tomorrow.
Thousands of children and blooming flowers will line the
Bangkok streets along the route on April 19, to embrace the Olympic Spirit
carried by the Olympic flame, said Anant, who is member of the Bangkok
organizing committee for Olympic torch relay.
"We want our next generation to
be inspired for a deep understanding of the Olympic Spirit," said Anant.
The
10.4-km relay route, starting from the ceremonial "Chinese Gate" in Bangkok's
century-old China Town, passing the city's famous landmarks and finishing at the
ceremonial venue Royal Plaza, will be decorated with flowers and logos and
slogan banners of the Beijing Olympics, said Anant Siripasraporn, Deputy
Permanent Secretary for BMA.
The torch will arrive in Bangkok on April 18. A
welcome ceremony will be held on April 19, and celebrations are organized on the
relay day before the Olympic flame heads for the next stop Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.
Born in Thailand to a Chinese-immigrant family, Anant, in his 50s,
views his being the torch bearer a glory for himself and his
parents.
Explaining why the relay route starts from Chinese Gate on Yaowarat
Road standing at the starting point of China Town area, Anant said China Town
has a long history of 117 years, dated back in 1891, when then Thai King Rama V
ordered the construction of the main street Yaowarat among others to accommodate
the expanding community of Chinese immigrants swarming into Bangkok.
"The
China Town has a history even longer than the modern Olympic Games, which was
first held in 1896, and today it is not only the commercial center for
Thai-Chinese businessmen, but also the symbolic site knotting the two nations.
So it carries deep significance to set out the Beijing Olympics torch
relay."
The relay route in Bangkok is designed to pass the Temple of Emerald
Buddha, a symbol of Thailand's traditional culture, the Chitralada Palace -- the
current royal residence of the highly-revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and end
at the Royal Plaza, among other world-renowned landmarks, representing the good
wishes from the Thai Royalty, the Thai government, the Thai people and the Thai
capital for the Beijing Olympics, said Anant.
Speaking about reported
disruptions during the Olympic torch relay legs in Paris and London, Anant
expressed indignation.
"I really can't understand those people (who disturbed
the torch relays)," said Anant. "The Olympic Games for me is a grand
international sports event, a big party of human kind, which strengthens ties
and exchange between people all around the world."
"But the reality we must
live with is that there will be always those ill-intentioned people who attempt
to destroy or disturb something, regardless of whatever event or wherever it
is."
"We should not be worried or afraid of such kind of disturbance. As the
saying goes, the evil will not conquer the good,"
"The Olympic flame is
symbol of Olympic Spirit. We Thailanders also have this slogan for sports,
'learn how to win, learn how to lose, learn how to forgive.' With these beliefs,
I'm confident Bangkok will successfully and beautifully hold the torch
relay."
Xinhua
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