French passion greets torch in Paris

PARIS: The run toward Beijing 2008 continued yesterday - the seventh day into the torch relay - with the Paris leg starting from Eiffel Tower in the hometown of Baron Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympics.

Tens of thousands of Parisians swarmed the streets while many waved and cheered, like their ancestors did in 1894 when foot races with torches were organized during an international congress for the restoration of the Olympic movement.

"I'm really, really proud of bearing the torch," former men's world 400-m hurdles champion Stephane Diagana, the city's first torchbearer, told China Daily after his 200-m run along the tower's first viewing platform. "It's so meaningful for me."