Olympic torch relay in Zhengzhou concludes

The Beijing Olympic torch relay in Zhengzhou, capital city of China's most populous Henan province, concluded at the Zhengzhou International Exhibition Hallat 10:20 a.m. on Friday.

Zhengzhou was the flame's first stop in province and the relay ranged 7.6 kilometers with 208 torchbearers.

As the torchbearer entered the exhibition hall, several thousand of locals burst into cheers.

Wu Jiangxing, head of the People's Liberation Army Information Engineering University and the last torchbearer in Zhengzhou leg, lit the caldron.

"I am proud and excited in the holy moment," Wu said. "We are passing the torch as well as the Olympic dreams."

In a grand ceremony marking the end of the leg, Zhao Jiancai, mayor of Zhengzhou, said the torch relay in the city would bring the citizens' Olympic enthusiasm to the maximum.

The locals standing along the roads during the relay also expressed their excitement.

"I am so excited to witness the torch relay today," said Wang Yong, a Zhengzhou native who stood along the road with China's national flags in hands.

"I wish all the athletes from home and abroad good luck in the Games," he added.

On Saturday, the Olympic torch will continue its journey in the city of Kaifeng, known as the capital of seven dynasties in China's history.

今天10时2分，最后一名火炬手、中国工程院院士、解放军信息工程大学校长邬江兴点燃设在郑州国际会议中心的圣火盆，北京奥运会火炬接力郑州站传递随之顺利结束。郑州站是奥运火炬接力在河南省境内的第一站，今天下午，火炬接力团队将转场至开封市，奥运火炬接力明天将在开封上演。

郑州站火炬接力路线全程7.6公里，奥运火炬接力从河南省艺术中心广场出发，途径商务西五街、商务外环、通泰路、商务内环、众意路、会展路、会展广场，最终抵达郑州国际会议中心。郑州站火炬接力的火炬手共208名。原中国女排奥运冠军、国家体育总局排球运动管理中心副主任张蓉芳成为郑州站第一名火炬手。

除张蓉芳外，有中央电视台新闻中心新闻主播海霞，中国射击史上第一个女子世界冠军巫兰英，郑州市乒乓球队总教练李凤朝，中国工程院院士、解放军信息工程大学校长邬江兴，河南省体育局射击运动管理中心高级教练张冰，国家女子散打队总教练刘海科，武警河南省消防总队副总队长陈新江等人士参与传递。另外，登封市嵩山少林寺常住院释延鲁大师，少林寺寺监释延裕等佛教人士也参与了传递活动。