Olympic flame sheds glee in 'City of Smile'

　　BANGKOK, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The Olympic torch relay brought abundant cheers and festivity Saturday to Bangkok, the "City of Smile", with a mass of crowds flocking to the street, jamming the flame passing route interspersed with the city's most renowned landmarks and historic sites.

　　The launching ceremony was staged in the Chinese Gate, which was built in 1999 to celebrate HM the King's 6th Cycle Anniversary at the former Odeon-Fountain site. It was collaboration in Chinatown between the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the Thai-Chinese Association.

　　Thai Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kajornprasart, chairman of the Olympics Torch Relay Organizing Committee of Thailand, delivered a speech in the setting-off ceremony.

　　"It is an important event and a first-time opportunity for Thailand to host the torch relay," said Kaiornprasart.

　　"We have been supporting the Beijing Olympic Games since its bidding seven years ago. It's a great privilege for Thailand and Bangkok to be one of the stop-over for the Olympic flame.

　　"In spite of the occurrence of attaching politics to sports in a few earlier relays, to us, we would stick to the principle of separating politics from sports, and ensure a memorable relay here."

　　The highlighting sites en route include Sakchaiyasithi Gate, Democracy Monument, UN office, Chitralada Palace, Ananthasamakom Throne Hall. Historical sights along the route consist of China Town street, Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Budda, City Pillar Shrine, Royal Field, Mae Phra Thorani, Maha Jessada Bodin Pavilion Ground, Golden Mount and Chitralada Royal Residence.

　　All five Olympic champions in Thailand's history were selected to bear the torch, namely Manus Boonjumnong, Somluck Kamsing, Udomporn Polsak, Vijan Polnlid and Pawina Thongsuk.

　　Three of the five are boxing champions with Manus Boonjumnong in the light welterweight (64kg) in the Athens Olympics, Somluck Kamsing in the featherweight (57kg) in the Atlanta Games and VijanPolnlid in flyweight (51kg) in the Sydney Olympics.

　　Udomporn Polsak is women's weightlifting gold medalist of 53kg in Athens Games. The last torchbearer Pawina Thongsuk is another weightlifting champion of women's 75kg in Athens. The first torchbearer was Anant Siripasraporn, the Deputy Permanent Secretary of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

　　"I am filled with the scenario of carrying the torch in mind. It's so exciting," said Siripasrapom after finishing his first leg.

　　"I feel so honored to welcome the Olympic flame here. It's a great event to mark the close relations between the two countries, it's a good opportunity to bring forth the city to the world, it'sa great day for the citizens to cheer up," added Siripasrapom, a Chinese descendant.

　　Pawina Thongsuk just retired from weightlifting for a knee injury, but the experience of torch relay somewhat makes up for her leaving the Olympic competition. "I suffered injury in my training this year and have to retire from weightlifting, but being a torchbearer is making up for my retiring from the Olympic Games," said Thongsuk.

　　"Though I can't go to the Beijing Games, but I think my teammates are capable of winning something there."

　　The community celebration was set up in Equestrian Monument of King Rama V with throngs of people waiting there hours before the arrival of the Olympic flame. The bronze statue of King Rama V in Field Marshal's uniform mounted on a horse was cast in Paris by a French sculptor in 1907 when the king visited Europe, and was shipped to Bangkok in 1908. The statue stands six meters tall from the platform on which the horse stands to the top of the helmet.

　　A day earlier on Friday, Thailand's crown princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over a welcome party, expressed her aspiration of attending the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympic Games on August 8 on behalf of the King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The princess is well known for her keen interest in Chinese culture and has been to China for dozens of times.

　　Bangkok is the capital and primary city of Thailand, a country of Buddhism prevailing. It is located on both sides of the Chao Phraya River with a huge population of over 10 millions.

　　Wrapping up the 10km relay in Bangkok, the Olympic flame is heading for the next journey in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia.