Some 10,000 residents of Beijing took a long walk along a section of the Olympic triathlon venue on Saturday for some exercise and to demonstrate their passion for the forthcoming Olympics.

Liu Qi among long walkers

Donned in shirts of the Olympic colors, the walkers, including students, farmers, and blue and white-collar workers, formed an armada that looked like a beautiful rainbow over the reservoir or a long dragon winding its way through the mountain in the area.

They passed through the so-called peace, hope, health, harmony and triumph "avenues" and were happily rewarded with a symbolic apple, which is a local product, a certificate, and a ticket to the scenic spots of Changping District, where the walk took place.

Drumming for walkers

Among the walkers were Liu Qi, BOCOG president and secretary of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, Hu Chunhua, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Youth League, and many other leading officials of the Beijing Municipality. About 80 percent of the participants crossed the finish line.

Organized by Beijing youth and volunteer bodies, the campaign also attracted a number of students from foreign countries and employees of foreign companies in China.

BOCOG staff members join in the long walk

(BOCOG October 29, 2007)