Background

Beijing relays Olympic torch for Athens 2004

The Olympic flame for the Athens Olympiad arrived in Beijing on June 8, 2004 and was received by a huge gathering of supporters at the Great Wall. The event was historic for many reasons -- not in the least that it was the first time ever for the Olympic flame to land in China. On the June 9, 2004, the Olympic flame made a massive journey across the city -- beginning in Tiananmen Square and ending up at the Summer Palace on the outskirts of Beijing. A total of 148 people, age 14 to 73, shared the opportunity of carrying the torch in a relay across town.