The torch relay in Ruijin, Jiangxi province, began with a minute's silence in memory of the Sichuan earthquake victims and ended with donations toward disaster relief efforts.

Known as the red capital of China, Ruijin was the location of the temporary central government of the Soviet Republic of China. The famed Long March of the Red Army started from Ruijin.

"One World, One Dream," Fu Chunnong, mayor of Ruijin, said. "While we are celebrating this occasion to host the torch relay in the red capital, we also share the pain of our compatriots in the earthquake-hit areas. We wish them the courage and strength our revolutionary armies endured during the Long March and the revolutionary war."

A total of 208 torchbearers took part in the 18.6-km relay starting from the Yeping Red Army Square, the site of the national games in 1933. It was the last sporting event to be held there before the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

Dozens of students dressed in Red Army-style sports outfits took part in various games such as table tennis, tug-of-war and basketball recalling the games of 75 years ago.

Soon after the final torch reached the Central Revolutionary Base Area History Museum, a donation ceremony was held for quake relief work. The Ruijin city government donated 5 million yuan ($725,000) and the municipal government of Ganzhou, 2 million yuan.

A torchbearer from Jiujiang, another city in Jiangxi province, donated 1 million yuan. Other donors included local companies, and the torch relay operation team of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG).

Li Ping, spokeswoman for BOCOG's Olympic Torch Relay Center, said people participating in the relay were very concerned about the quake victims.

"The Olympics is all about a fighting spirit, solidarity and caring. This is what we need now in fighting the disaster."

Torchbearer Nora Finzel from Germany said: "I heard that among the casualties are many young people. I am very concerned, and my heart goes out to them."

(China Daily 05/15/2008 page7)