Shantou (China): The Olympic torch relay in Shantou in China started in rain on Saturday, marking the last stopover in Guangdong province.

The launch ceremony overcame the rainstorm, with a former weightlifting world champion, Cai Yanshu, taking over the first torch from an official in the Dragon Bay District Square at 8.05 a.m.

The Olympic Games will be held in Beijing Aug 8-24.

Cai Yanshu, 44, is a world champion himself before training Zhang Guozheng to the Olympic champion. He won the Asian Games gold in men's 75kg category in 1986. In the 1989 World Championships, he snatched a weight of 160kg, grabbing the title of 75kg category.

"I have never won an Olympic medal. The experience of being a torchbearer just makes up for the regret," said Cai.

The relay in Shantou is set to proceed a course of 36 km. Shantou, historically known in the West as Swatow or Swatau or Suátao, is a city of five million in coastal eastern Guangdong province.

Source : IANS