Liu Tianyou, a 93-year-old Red Army soldier, carries the Olympic torch.

Liu Tianyou, a 93-year-old retired Red Army soldier, started running at 8:15 a.m. at the site of the Zaoyuan Revolution, marking the beginning of the Olympic Torch Relay in Yan'an, known as the cradle of the Chinese revolution.

A total of 208 torchbearers will take part in the 6.31 kilometer-long relay.

The starting ceremony of the relay, chaired by Mayor Chen Qiang, was highlighted by traditional performances staged by 260 actors. Present at the ceremony were local party officials Zheng Xiaoming and Li Xi, as well as the vice director of BOCOG Torch Relay Center, Lin Xiaohua.

(BOCOG July 1, 2008)