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Bangkok relay for Olympic torch |
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 Bangkok relay for Olympic torch Thousands of people have watched the Olympic torch pass through Bangkok, during the Thai leg of a worldwide relay held amid tight security.
 Eighty torchbearers took part in the 10.6 km relay which began at the ceremonial Chinese Gate in Yaowarat, Bangkok's Chinatown, amid tight security as officials responded to the possibility of pro-Tibet activists' peaceful demonstrations maring the dignity of the Olympic event with reminders of China's human rights crackdown in Tibet last month. 
The ceremony was presided over by Thai Deputy Prime Minister Maj - Gen. Sanan Kajornprasart. 
The torch and the 80 sequential stage-by-stage runners were escorted by police patrols, guards and motorcycles along the route, past historical landmarks, to end at the Royal Plaza -- all of which took about three hours. 
Thousands of people lined the route, many with Thai, Chinese and Olympic flags, cheering the torch relay runners.
Two groups of about 100 pro-Tibet activists and 300 pro-Chinese groups gathered outside the United Nations headquarters on Rajdamneon Nok Road and shouted slogans at one another other, but were contained by police and the torch passed without incident.
The first torchbearer was Bangkok deputy governor Anant Siripasaraporn while Paveena Thongsuk, the 2004 Olympics weightlifting gold medallist, was the last.
The cultural performances were organised at the Royal Plaza to celebrate the Olympic flame which had come to the kingdom for the first time. During the process, torch bearer Chris Benjakul's torch was snatched from his hand after he handed over the Olympic flame to the next torch bearer.
Mr. Chris was a TV star before he was hit by a drunken motorcyclist in an accident site while he was attempting to rescue victims.
He asked that the snatcher return the torch, as he has been waiting for this occasion for a long time and wanted to keep the torch as a souvenir.
The former star showed reporters the empty box which had held the torch.
The progress of the torch has been plagued by protesters since it was first lit in Greece last month. The Asia torch relay includes stops in India, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, South Korea, Japan and Vietnam before heading to China. The torch was scheduled to leave for Malaysia on Saturday night. |
Bangkok Attraction 
