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Singer-songwriter Wang Leehom. (Pic courtesy of beijing2008.cn) |
The Olympic torch relay, a symbol of peace across continents, has traditionally been carried out by mostly athletes, but it has evolved overtime to involve politicians, ordinary citizens, and celebrities.
The Beijing 2008 Olympics, touted as the biggest torch relay so far, covers over 137,000 kilometres with the flame exchanging between some 21,880 pairs of hands in more than 20 countries.
It has also seen a large turnout of Asian celebrities who have attracted much attention to the Games from non-sports fans.
The first big name in the Asian entertainment scene to carry the torch was Chinese-American singer-songwriter Wang Leehom.
Wang, who also attended the ignition ceremony on March 24 in Olympia, Greece, was the seventeenth runner in the entire relay.
The “Lust, Caution” star said via live feed from Greece that he had exercised for two weeks to prepare for his big day, and had even cut his hair to give an impression of good health. The actor also said that the "once in a life time experience" would most probably "inspire the direction of his music".
The international round saw stars turning up in force to support the flame.
Popular Korean singer-actress Jang Nara carried the torch in Seoul in the South Korea leg of the relay on April 27, joined by fellow Korean singer Bada and actress Ko Ah-ra.
Malaysian singer Rynn Lim was the sole entertainer in his country to carry the torch as it made its round through Malaysia.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong singer-actress Miriam Yeung took part in the Macau leg of the relay.
Yeung, who had been training hard, proudly told the media that prior to the race, she was already able to do some 12 kilometres an hour, although she would only be doing about 200 metres with the flame at a slow jog during her stint with the torch.
Hong Kong’s turn in the relay saw an impressive list of stars who turned up to run with the flame.
One of the four 'Heavenly Kings' of Cantonese pop music in Asia, Andy Lau, ran the fourth leg of the Olympic torch relay in Hong Kong.
After countless live concert performances and movie roles which saw the 46-year-old execute great confidence to pull off just about anything, the Hong Kong superstar admitted he experienced a rare “stage fright” before and during his 200-metre leg.
Lau called the experience one of the most “precious moments in his life”.
The avid sports fan has even managed to snap up tickets to the Olympics opening ceremony and a few semi-final events, although he expressed disappointment at failing to attain tickets for his favourite sports - volleyball and diving.
Another recognisable face in the Hong Kong entertainment scene, Eason Chan carried the torch through the Shatin Racecourse in Hong Kong while singer Kelly Chen completed her 200-metre run at Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui.
Other stars who graced the relay included singer Leo Ku, swimmer-turned-actor and singer Alex Fong, as well as actress Liza Wang.
Another 'Heavenly King', Jackie Cheung, rounded up the celebrity line-up as Hong Kong's 116th runner, relaying the Wan Chai Road section.
Even as the torch left Hong Kong to tour Mainland China, Hong Kong celebrities continued to make their presence felt in the flame's journey.
Acclaimed actor and director Jackie Chan, who has already had a taste of running with the torch in the 2004 Athens Olympics, made several appearances with the flame.
The 54-year-old was involved in lighting the cauldron at Sanya's Tianya Haijiao on May 4 in China's Hainan province, the first destination in the torch's relay through Mainland China.
Chan also ran his leg of the relay in Sanya, as well as another with Pu Huifang, the head of a small town in Sanya. Chan is rumoured to take on yet another leg of the relay when the torch makes its final journey through Beijing.
Singers Li Shengjie and Emil Chow, as well as "Rush Hour" actress Zhang Ziyi also had their turns with the flame in Hainan.
Hong Kong singer-actress Karen Mok carried the torch through the Three Gorges Dam in central China's Hubei province a day ahead of her birthday, June 2.
She told reporters it was the "greatest honour of her life to pass on the torch" and the most "wonderful gift she has received" for her birthday.
Shanghai, the most populated city in China, also did not scrimp in its star appearances.
Jane Zhang, third place winner of the 2005 season of China's Super Girl singing contest, along with Chinese actresses Gao Yuan Yuan and Li Bing Bing, as well as "Red Cliff" star Tony Leung took the torch through the city along with 412 other torch bearers.
The Beijing part of the relay, also the final leg of the torch's journey before the lighting of the cauldron at the Beijing National Stadium, will perhaps see the most star-studded line-up of all.
Day one of three of the torch's journey through the capital saw acclaimed Chinese film-maker Zhang Yimou run his part with his trademark crew cut as number 86, followed by internationally recognised Chinese pianist Lang Lang.
Singapore's home-grown star Lin Jun Jie (JJ Lin), reportedly the only Singaporean to run in the final leg of the relay also ran on the same day.
The singer was initially supposed to run on the day of the opening ceremony, August 8, but recent security concerns in China amid terrorist threats changed the line-up.
Not only was the date altered, the route was also shortened and Lin ran less than 40 metres as compared to the original 400m.
Initially, the 27-year-old had told Channelnewsasia.com that representing Singapore on an international level on the eve of national day was symbolic and a "huge responsibility".
"It's a huge responsibility as I carry a lot on my shoulders,” said Lin. “I'm representing Singapore in the international arena in a way, and that is really meaningful to me."
The star also reckoned that the reason for celebrities like himself, and basically “everybody else” who registered to take part in the relay was because it was the closest they could get to being a physical part of the Olympics as non-sportspersons.
He said in Mandarin: “I will remember every single step that I took in this relay because this event can possibly be said as the most memorable in my life.”
China-born Han Geng of Korean boy band Super Junior would also be participating in the torch relay in Beijing.
Organisers said the 24-year-old was chosen "as they recognised his part in the cultural exchange of China through his activities in Korea and the rest of Asia".
The torch will reach Beijing National Stadium, affectionately known as the ‘Bird’s Nest’ for its shape, on August 8.
The flame will light the Olympics cauldron precisely at 8:08pm, followed by what has been crowned as the “most spectacular Olympics Opening Ceremony ever produced” with performances by a star-studded cast of 15,000.
- CNA/yb
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