China's top lawmaker starts torch relay for National Games

People attend the starting ceremony of the 11th National Games torch relay at the east gate of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on Aug. 16, 2009. The 11th edition of the National Games, which are held every four years, will take place in Shandong Province from Oct. 16 to 28. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

BEIJING, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- China's top lawmaker Wu Bangguo lit a torch here on Sunday morning, marking the official start of the torch relay throughout the country for the 11th National Games.

Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, set the flame in the cauldron placed at the eastern gate of the Great Hall of the People to the torch and waved it to the enthusiastic crowds.

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, lights the torch during the starting ceremony of the 11th National Games torch relay at the eastern gate of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, on Aug. 16, 2009. The 11th edition of the National Games, which are held every four years, will take place in Shandong Province from Oct. 16 to 28. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

Wu, also member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), then handed the torch to Liu Peng, minister of the State General Administration of Sports who passed it on to the first bearer, Du Li, a two-time Olympic shooting champion.

Also attending the ceremony were other Chinese leaders and top sports officials.

The flame, which was ignited in a traditional sun-ray ceremony on the top of Mount Tai that symbolizes prosperity and peace, will travel across China over the next two months before arriving in Jinan, the provincial capital of Shandong, for the opening ceremony of the National Games.

The 11th edition of the National Games, which are held every four years, will take place in Shandong Province from Oct. 16 to 28.

Wu Bangguo (R, front), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, watches the torch during the starting ceremony of the 11th National Games torch relay at the east gate of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, on Aug. 16, 2009. The 11th edition of the National Games, which are held every four years, will take place in Shandong Province from Oct. 16 to 28.(Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)