Olympic flame arrives in Tanzania

The Beijing Olympic flame has arrived in Tanzania's largest city, Dar es Salaam. The city's leg of the torch relay begins at 2 pm local time on Sunday, and will take about two hours.

Liu Jingmin (L), the executive vice president of the Beijing  Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games (BOCOG),  walks out of the cabin with the lantern which holds the  Olympic flame in his hands at the airport in Dar es Salaam,  the largest city of Tanzania, April 12, 2008. Dar es Salaam  is the eighth leg of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch  relay global tour outside the Chinese mainland. (Xinhua Photo)

This is the first time that the sacred flame has traveled to Eastern Africa.

The mayor of Dar es Salaam and Tanzania's cultural and sports minister, as well as hundreds of spectators, welcomed the torch.

The torch relay in Dar es Salaam will cover a total of five kilometers. It will travel from the city's railway station to the Tanzanian National Stadium.

Among the 80 torch bearers are Tanzanian Vice President Ali Mohamed Shein, Dar es Salaam Mayor Adam Kimbisa, Chairman of Tanzanian Olympic Committee Gulam Rashid, and Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania Liu Xinsheng.

Liu Xinsheng said, "I believe that the relay in Dar es Salaam will provide a good opportunity to promote friendship between the people of China and Tanzania. It also helps enhance mutual trust between the two sides and promote the Olympic spirit."

Tanzania's Olympic Committee says everything is in place for the relay, which is expected to inspire the country with the Olympic spirit.

Gulam Rashid, Chairman of Tanzanian Olympic Committee, said, "Most of our people know the Olympic torch..."

Meanwhile, the mayor of the city has condemned recent attempts by Tibet independence separatists and their supporters to sabotage the torch relay.

Dar es Salaam is an important port on the continent of Africa. In Swahili, it means "harbor of peace".

Tanzania is expected to send seven athletes to this summer's Olympics. They will compete in swimming, boxing, and track and field.