Olympic torch cheered in Kuala Lumpur -- china.org.cn

The Olympic torch has finished its journey through the streets of Kuala Lumpur. Local supporters and overseas Chinese were there to welcome the flame.

Jiang Xiaoyu (R), vice president of the Beijing Organizing Committee of Olympic Games, holds up a torch ahead of the torch relay during the torch relay in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, April 21, 2008. Kuala Lumpur is the 13th stop of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay. (Xinhua Photo)

Overseas Chinese cheer for the torch relay in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, April 21, 2008. Kuala Lumpur is the 13th stop of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay.(Xinhua Photo)

It was the second time for Kuala Lumpur to welcome an Olympic torch relay.

Tens of thousands of local residents and overseas Chinese gathered to show their support, turning the city into a sea of passion.

The 16-kilometer relay started from the city's Independence Square, where the flame received a warm welcome as Malaysians put on a grand ceremony.

Imran Ibni Tuanku Ja'afar from Malaysian Olympic Council Pres., said, "It is traveling along the silk road. This time crossing five continents and stopping in 21 cities and more than 100 in China. This torch relay will be a journey of harmony, bringing friendship and respect to people of different nationalities, cultures and ..."

The president of the Malaysian Olympic Council ran the first leg of the relay, starting the torch on a journey past a number of Malaysian landmarks.

80 torch bearers participated in the relay, including representatives of different careers in Malaysia - ranging from athletes to an astronaut - with the oldest runner 84 years old.

The sacred flame met with heavy rain during the relay, but even this couldn't put out the passion of the torch bearers or dampen the public spirit.

A Chinese student said, "It's a good opportunity to celebrate the event for our country. We don't want to see what had happened in London and Paris, so we came here to show our support in this historic moment."

Despite the heavy rain, the relay finally wrapped up the whole journey at the Petronas Towers, where China's ambassador to Malaysia joined up with a Malaysian astronaut to light the cauldron.

The flame next travels from Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta, continuing its global relay on Tuesday.

(CCTV April 22, 2008)