The Olympic Torch Relay took place in Macao this afternoon.

At the opening ceremony of the run, the Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, said in a speech that the Olympic Games is the largest sporting event and it is encouraging and thrilling that Beijing is holding the 29th Olympic Games.

The SAR Government and all the Macao people are honoured to hold the Torch Relay in Macao for the first time and it is a historic event for Macao, he said.

On behalf of the Macao SAR, Mr Ho thanked the Central Government, the International Olympic Committee and the Beijing Organising Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games (BOCOG) for providing the privilege to Macao to take part in the Torch Relay, the Journey of Harmony.

The Olympic Flame bears the mission and dream of all the people in the world. After traveling to different parts of the five continents, the Olympic Flame arrived in Macao from where it will go on to the mother country, he said.

Mr Ho said the Olympic Spirit will then spread to all corners of China and the new faces of China will be displayed to the world.

He said that the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games will open on 8 August and the Macao SAR Government and all the people in Macao will fully support the Games. He wished that the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games a great success.