Smooth runs let ideals shine

I am deeply grateful for the perfectly smooth relay in Bangkok. For one thing, it afforded me some time to go shopping - for the first time yet during our global journey - for my family at Kuala Lumpur's famous KLCC on Sunday.

According to Thai police, some 300,000 spectators welcomed the sacred flame in Bangkok. All, indeed, were in a particularly festive mood, even in face of minor disturbances, which were easily overcome. We all sweated in the Southeast Asian heat and enjoyed every second of it.

The Bangkok relay played out in sharp contrast to the two previous legs.