After a three-day suspension, the Olympic torch began to be passed in Ningbo

The Olympic flame, preserved in the fire seed lamp, once again ignited the "Ruyun" torch today. To express mourning for compatriots who died in the Sichuan earthquake, the domestic torch relay activities were suspended for three days from the 19th to the 21st. Today, the Olympic flame is back on track and begins its relay in Ningbo, Zhejiang.

At around 7:20 am, Zhu Shijie, the "Chief Worker of Ningbo" and a skilled bridge crane operator at Beilun Port, held up the "Ruyun" torch and ran the first leg of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay in Ningbo. The starting point of the relay was at this bridge crane operator's workplace - Beilun Port, China's second largest port.

At the start-of-the-race ceremony, Zhu Shijie read out the "Disaster Relief Initiative" on behalf of all torchbearers in Ningbo, calling on people to lend a helping hand and show their love to the earthquake-stricken areas in Sichuan. In order to mourn the victims of the Sichuan earthquake, the Ningbo Organizing Committee for the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay canceled mass interactive performances, hung banners along the way with slogans such as "Helping those in difficulty" and "United as one", and set up donation boxes to facilitate citizens' donations to the disaster areas.

Today's thirtieth torchbearer was Zhang Jinsong, the "hardworking man" of the Chinese men's basketball team. He told reporters: "As a torchbearer, I have more responsibility and obligation to pass on love. I hope everyone can unite and get through the difficulties together."

The torch relay route in Ningbo went through Qing'an Guild Hall, Jiangdong Road, Liberation Bridge, Ningbo Grand Theater, and then moved to Hangzhou Bay Bridge for the relay. The Ningbo station torch relay was completed by 118 torchbearers and 30 running escorts, and the relay time was shortened by 30 minutes compared to the original plan.

That afternoon, the Olympic torch will move to Jiaxing to continue the relay.