Harbin heroes among torchbearers for Games

As the eldest torchbearer for the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, 83-year-old Luo Zhihuan was thrilled to take part in the torch relay on Monday.

"I was nervous but ecstatic to become a torchbearer for the Games in my hometown," said Luo, China's first winter sports world champion.

He was among the 120 torchbearers, who ranged in age from 16 to 83 and represented the various industries and individuals who have made significant contributions to the Games.

"It's a relay of the Olympic spirit from the older generation to the next generation, and I hope our young athletes can vie for the best results at the Games," Luo said.

Luo himself is among the pioneers of China's winter sports development and has had a huge impact on generations of winter sports athletes.

In 1963, Luo won the men's 1,500-meter event at the World Speed Skating Championship in Nagano, Japan, marking China's first world championship gold medal in winter sports.

The relay on Monday, which featured an 11-kilometer journey across the city, set off from the famous Chinese-Baroque historical and cultural block in the city's Daowai district.

Xu Qin, Party secretary of­Heilongjiang, lit the torch from a cauldron at a launch ceremony and announced the start of the relay.

The first torchbearer was 47-year-old Shen Xue, who won China's first pairs figure skating gold medal with partner Zhao Hongbo at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics — a major breakthrough for Chinese figure skating.

The torchbearers passed through landmarks such as the century-old Binzhou Railway Bridge, Zhaolin Park, which is known for its ice and snow art, the renowned Central Avenue, the Flood Control Memorial Tower and Nine Stations Park, where Harbin residents enjoy snow and ice leisure activities.

Torchbearer Liang Xiaosheng, a renowned writer and a professor at Beijing Language and Culture University, said: "I've been looking forward to this day since the invitation came. Relying on its abundant winter resources, Harbin has already become a popular tourism destination, and it is buzzing with more excitement as the Games are coming.

"Moreover, I hope that following this opportunity, cultural and tourism activities in the three northeastern provinces of Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang can be linked together, which will be very encouraging for us in Harbin," he added.

Yao Lijun, a successful entrepreneur who was born in Harbin, said he hoped his hometown will attract more investments and develop further after the Games.

"I felt quite honored to become a torchbearer for the Games," said Yao, president of Ningbo Konfoong Materials International Co in Zhejiang province.

"I hope that entrepreneurs from all over the world can come to Heilongjiang to invest and make my hometown better."

The closing ceremony was held at Daoli district's Snowman Square, a popular cultural and tourism landmark.

The Games, which will open on Friday and run through Feb 14, will see the largest representation of Asian countries and regions in history, with 34 confirming participation.