BEIJING, June 9 (Xinhuanet) -- The Olympic flame cast its glow in Beijing for the first time on Wednesday as a high-profile torch relay for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games was held in the Chinese capital.

The olive leaf-shaped torch was lit at 9:16 a.m. (0116 GMT) at the East Gate of the Great Hall of the People by Tiananmen Square in downtown Beijing.

Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee, passed the torch to Yu Zaiqing, vice president of the Chinese Olympic Committee and a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Yu then set off the 55.6-kilometer relay amidst the cheers of 1,000 middle school students.

Arousing passions for the Olympic spirit, the torch was passed from one bearer to the next on a specially marked route that passed through the city's most famous landmarks including the Heaven of Temple and the Forbidden City.

"I think I'm quite lucky to be selected as a torch bearer," said two-time Olympic shooting champion Yang Ling after he finished the third-leg run.

"I hope I can join the torch relay again four years on when the Olympic Games is held in Beijing," he added.

Along the route the atmosphere was festive, with balloons flying and people lining the streets cheering.

"I'm thrilled to see the flame so closely," said Liu Ran, a 17-year-old boy student.

After an eight-hour journey, the relay ended on Wednesday evening at the Summer Palace where NBA star Yao Ming ignited a ceremonial cauldron.

A total of 148 torchbearers, aged between 14 to 73, took part in the relay throughout the city. The list of torchbearers was a who's who of Chinese sport, including table tennis legend Deng Yaping and paralyzed gymnast Sang Lan, but also involved people from all walks of life.

"It's an honor for us to bring the Olympic flame and the Olympic spirit to Beijing, a city with wonderful history and deep-rooted culture," said Kristin Fabos, spokesperson for the Athens Olympic organizing committee.

"Sharing the Olympic flame with Beijing is not only a prelude to the Athens Olympics, but also an opening event for Beijing 2008."

Beijing, the host city of the 2008 Games, is the fifth stop of the 78,000-kilometer global relay which will cover 34 cities in 27countries.

The flame, which was kindled in Ancient Olympia on March 25, will be passed to New Delhi and will return to Greece on July 9 for the second half of its domestic relay. It will enter the Olympic stadium in Athens to light the cauldron on August 13.