Torch relay for Asiad trimmed to save money
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In a bid to reduce operational costs, organizers of the 16th Asian Games said the torch relay will only be held within Guangdong province.
The torch relay, an important lead-up to the Games, will travel to 21 cities within the province from October, Gu Shiyang, deputy general secretary of the Games' organizing committee, said yesterday.
The Games will be held in Guangzhou, the provincial capital city, from Nov 12-27.
Organizers also revealed the final design of the torch. It has been named "the tide" and was selected from dozens of candidates by more than 70 percent of about 126,000 netizen voters on the Games' official website.
"We are keeping to a principle of holding the Games with less expenditure. As a result, the torch will not travel across Asia and other parts of the nation," Gu said.
Organizers have already staged a one-year promotion, the Asian Roads, which traversed land and sea routes across 37 Asian countries and regions and began in Nov 2008.
Additionally, another promotional event, the China Tour of Asian Games, was also held in major Chinese cities last year.
"Previous promotional events have concluded with sound results in Asia and within the country. So we don't think it is necessary to hold another promotional event, like the torch relay," Gu said.
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