Jiang Xiaoyu (L), vice president of the Beijing Organizing Committee of Olympic Games (BOCOG), handed over the torch, which was kindled with the sacred Olympic flame from ancient Olympia of Greece, to Rita Subowo, president of the National Olympic Committee of Indonesia.(Xinhua Photo)
The Jakarta leg of the Beijing Olympic torch relay began at 2 p.m. local time (0700 GMT) Tuesday in the Bung Karno Sports Complex as cloudy Jakarta sky turned to a bright sunshine.
Jiang Xiaoyu, vice president of the Beijing Organizing Committee of Olympic Games (BOCOG), handed over the torch, which was kindled with the sacred Olympic flame from ancient Olympia of Greece, to Rita Subowo, president of the National Olympic Committee of Indonesia.
Rita Subowo (L), president of the National Olympic Committee of Indonesia, passed on the torch to Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo. (Xinhua Photo)
She then passed on the torch to Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo.
Spectators at the ceremony were treated with Jakarta traditional dance and music performances.
The local organizers have named 80 torchbearers of government officials, sports celebrities, artists and noted environmental activists.
They ran on a route of 7 km inside the country's largest sports complex.
Thousands of spectators including high school students cheered the runners and waved Chinese and Indonesian flags along the route.
Governor Fauzi said in his opening speech: "Sports are always an element that can unite the world, unite many cultures in the world. Through sports, we promote peace and understanding among people in the world.
"Jakarta is very proud of being the host of the Olympic torch relay. We wish the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games a great success."
Before Jakarta, a special lantern carrying the Olympic flame had traveled 13 cities around the world.
