Olympic flame passes San Francisco

2008-04-09 23:26:14 Xinhua English

Local people wait to watch the Olympic flame in San Francisco, the United States, April 9, 2008. San Francisco is the sixth stop of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay outside the Chinese mainland. (Xinhua Photo)

Torchbearer Edwin M. Lee (L), the city administrator of San Francisco, and a female torchbearer run with the torch in San Francisco, the United States, April 9, 2008. San Francisco is the sixth stop of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay outside the Chinese mainland. (Xinhua Photo)

Torchbearer David Stern (L), National Basketball Association commissioner, and a female torchbearer run with the torch in San Francisco, the United States, April 9, 2008. San Francisco is the sixth stop of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay outside the Chinese mainland.(Xinhua Photo)

Torchbearer Lang Ping (L), now head of the U.S. women's volleyball team, and torchbearer James Dolan run with the torch in San Francisco, the United States, April 9, 2008. San Francisco is the sixth stop of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay outside the Chinese mainland.(Xinhua Photo)

Some torchbearers pose for a group photo at a closing ceremony held at the airport in San Francisco, the United States, April 9, 2008. San Francisco is the sixth stop of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay outside the Chinese mainland.(Xinhua Photo)

Overseas Chinese welcome the Olympic flame in San Francisco, the United States, April 9, 2008. San Francisco is the sixth stop of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay outside the Chinese mainland.(Xinhua Photo)

SAN FRANCISCO, April 9 (Xinhua) -- The Olympic flame passed through San Francisco on Wednesday with the closing ceremony held at the airport.

The torch relay set off well in the pre-arranged China Bay Park. But facing threats by Tibetan separatists and their supporters to storm the relay, San Francisco police made a swift change of the route and shortened the course by half.

The new route passed through Fort Mason, Crissy Fields and Golden Gate Bridge down the Presidio avenue. The previous itinerary covered AT&T Stadium, the home court for San Francisco baseball team of Giants, Bay Bridge, Ferry Building, Golden Gate Bridge, Palace of Fine Arts, China Town, Lombard Street and Civic center, Ciot Tower and Fishermen's Wharf.

The torchbearers had to run two in line in order to ensure each bearer an opportunity to carry the torch.

Torch carrier Coughlin Natalie, double gold medallist in the Athens Games, said she was not bothered much by the change.

"We learned the possibility of resetting route minutes after we boarded on the bus, so it's not a surprise at all," said Natalie, who won five medals in the 2004 Olympic Games, including golds in100m backstroke and 800m freestyle relay.

"Personally I don't care about the change of route, there are large crowds still along the new route and the safety of torchbearers are well secured. That's what I think is more important," added Natalie.

Patricia Raybarn, 64, ran with Paralympian Kortney Clemons.

"It's OK to run the new route. It does not affect my feelings of holding the torch at all and I see a lot of people along the street and hear a lot of cheers," said Raybarn, who ran near FortMason.

"It's terrific to carry the torch. It's just different from holding the torch yesterday in exhibition, and I can feel the heat," said 27-year-old Clemons, who lost his right leg in Iraq war in February 2005.

Clemons is training on 100m and hopes to win something in the Beijing Paralympics.

A farewell ceremony was held in San Francisco airport after the relay. San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom and U.S. Olympic chief Peter Uberoth attended the ceremony and received the torch donation from Beijing Olympics executive vice president Jiang Xiaoyu.

"In order to make sure the safety of torchbearers, the route was changed, which resulted in some people failing to view the flame," said Jiang.

"I strongly feel their passion for the relay and I give my sincere thanks to them for supporting the relay."

Olympic flame passes San Francisco

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