Olympic champion Xiong Ni takes the torch from Zhang Chunxian, Secretary of the Hunan Provincial Committee.

The Olympic Torch Relay in Changsha, Hunan Province, began on the morning of June 4, with Xiong Ni, the former Olympic diving champion and current director of the Hunan Sports Bureau, running the first leg.

The launching ceremony took place in Aiwan Pavilion, one of the four famous pavilions of China. Li Dongsheng, a member of BOCOG; Wang Wei, Executive Vice-President and Secretary General of BOCOG; Zhang Chunxian, Secretary of the Hunan Provincial Committee; and Zhou Qiang, Governor of Hunan Province, attended the ceremony.

After leaving Aiwan Pavilion, the torch will arrive at Helong Gymnasium through Dongfanghong Square and Yinpenling Bridge. There will be 206 torchbearers covering the entire distance of 100.8 kilometers.

(BOCOG June 4, 2008)