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Souvenir Cover Text for Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay (Hong Kong) (Issue date: 2 May 2008)
The passing of the Olympic flame is a ceremonious ritual for spreading the Olympic spirit of global friendship and peace. As the co-host city for the Equestrian Events of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Hong Kong is honoured to participate in this important tradition. To mark the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay in Hong Kong on 2 May 2008, Hongkong Post issues this souvenir cover in celebration of this spectacular event.
The Torch Relay takes the theme "Journey of Harmony" to embody the Olympic ideal. The 130-day Torch Relay, commencing on 24 March in Olympia, Greece, covers 137,000 km in the hands of 21,880 torchbearers, reaching a record high in terms of both the length of route and the number of torchbearers. The Olympic flame will, after an extensive journey touring the five continents and a promising attempt at scaling the summit of the world at Mount Qomolangma, finally return to Beijing to light the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games on 8 August 2008.
Hong Kong is the first stop on Chinese soil after the Olympic flame has been carried through the five continents. The torch will be carried across the territory from Kowloon through the New Territories to Hong Kong Island by 120 torchbearers running or using various modes of transportation such as dragon boat and launch. The 8-hour relay will start at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, pass the Main Competition Arena of the Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Venue (Sha Tin) and end at Golden Bauhinia Square, a route to showcase major landmarks and scenic spots of the city.
The local relay route is shown in the backdrop of the souvenir cover, highlighting the logo of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay and the slogan "Light the Passion Share the Dream" . The logo presents two runners holding aloft the Olympic flame in the image of a phoenix to symbolise the legendary "Fire Phoenix". The focus of the souvenir cover falls on the Beijing Olympic Torch, the design of which boasts Chinese artistic heritage and technical excellence.