Here, in the second-ever Latin American Olympic torch relay city after Rio de Janeiro of Brazil in 2004 and the only Spanish-speaking city along its way to the Games in Beijing, the torch was carried from Constanera Sur to the Equine Club through beautiful boulevards and scenic spots, including the Plaza de Mayo and Avenida 9 de Julio, widely acknowledged as the world's widest street, with the iconic Obelisco at its center.
 |
| Former tennis player Gabriela Sabatini of Argentina carries the Olympic torch at the last stage of the Olympic relay in Buenos Aires April 11, 2008.[Agencies] |
Following a celebratory ceremony at the Equine Club, the relay will depart before midnight local time and be transported to Tanzania's Dar Es Salaam.
"The visit of the Olympic torch in Buenos Aires is a one-time event in the sports history of our country," Francisco Irarrazaval, sports undersecretary of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, said.
"We are very proud to have the opportunity to host an event of such magnitude, united by important human values that we want to reflect on our society, through the universal slogan of 'Light the Passion, Share the Dream'," he said.
"We expect a full success of the 'Journey of Harmony', which will contribute to the promotion of the Olympic ideal as well as facilitate the mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and Argentine peoples," Liu Jingmin, executive vice-president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), said at a reception organized by the Argentine city on Thursday evening.
Covering a total distance of 137,000 km, the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay has the longest route in the history of the relay.
Starting from Beijing, the relay winds across Asia, Europe, North and Latin America, Africa, Oceania, and then back to China before the torch ignites the cauldron at the opening ceremony of the Games on Aug 8.
