鑽石舞台

The torch relay for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games started in Beijing on Wednesday, just two days before the Games officially opens.

▲ China's first winter sport world champion Luo Zhihuan runs with the torch during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Torch Relay at the Olympic Forest Park in Beijing, capital of China, Feb 2, 2022.Photo by Wang Zhuangfei / chinadaily.com.cn

Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, lit a torch from a cauldron at the launch ceremony held at the Olympic Forest Park, then handed it to 80-year-old Luo Zhihuan, China's first winter sports world champion.

▲ Torch bearer Jing Haipeng runs with the torch during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Torch Relay at the Olympic Forest Park in Beijing, capital of China, Feb 2, 2022. Photo by Wang Zhuangfei/chinadaily.com.cn

The torch relay has been scaled down and is being held under strict precautionary measures due to concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic.

▲Torch bearers Jing Haipeng (right front) and Ye Peijian attend the Beijing 2022 Olympic Torch Relay at the Olympic Forest Park in Beijing, capital of China, Feb 2, 2022. Photo by Wang Zhuangfei / chinadaily.com.cn

Some 1200 participants will take part in the relay, which will last three days through three competition zones and culminate with the lighting of the cauldron at the opening ceremony on Friday night.

▲Four-time Olympic Champion Wang Meng runs with the torch during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Torch Relay at the Winter Olympic Park in Beijing, Feb 2, 2022. Photo by Jiang Dong / chinadaily.com.cn

The first day takes the theme "Showcasing Beijing as a dual Olympic city" as the flame makes its way to the Beijing Winter Olympic Park.

The Winter Olympics will take place from Feb 4 to 20.

來源：新華社