The first torchbearer Anant Siripasraporn, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, greets the spectators when beginning his running with the torch in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, on April 19, 2008. Bangkok is the 12th stop of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay outside the Chinese mainland. (Xinhua Photo)

    BANGKOK, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The Olympic torch relay in Bangkok, the 12th leg of the Olympic Flame's global tour, completed as scheduled at early Saturday evening as the last torchbearer, Thai Olympic gold medalist Paveena Thongsuk kindled the Olympic cauldron in Bangkok's Royal Plaza.

    Paveena, who won women's weightlifting 75kg gold at the 2004 Athens Olympic, arrived at around 6:10 p.m. (1110GMT) at the stage set up before the King Rama V Monument in the Royal Plaza, the finishing point of the torch relay in Bangkok, to meet a cheering crowd of thousands waving Chinese and Thai national flags.

    Thai and Chinese traditional music and dancing performances were put on the stage as part of the celebrations.

    Tens of thousands of spectators, many of them enthusiastic Chinese expatriates and students, had lined both sides of the streets, waited hours and followed the torch bearers along the route, chanting support for the Beijing Olympics.

    Police estimated some 40,000 people have joined the parade as spectators throughout the three-hour relay.

Torchbearer Yanint Raso runs with the torch in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, on April 19, 2008. Bangkok is the 12th stop of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay outside the Chinese mainland. (Xinhua/Qi Heng) Photo Gallery>>>

 

    More than 2,000 Thai police and soldiers, as well as a helicopter had been deployed to ensure security for the torch relay.

    Yuthasak Sasiprapha, President of National Olympic Committee of Thailand, declared a success of the Bangkok torch relay. He thanked the BOCOG for picking Bangkok as one of the 21 cities around the globe to relay the Olympic torch, a first ever event for Thailand.

    He wished the remaining journey of the Olympic flame will go as smooth and bring good wishes of the world all the way to Beijing.

    The Olympic flame, which had traveled 11 nations before arriving in Bangkok early Friday morning, will leave for the next stop Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia late Saturday night.

Local Chinese welcome the arrival the Olympic torch in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, on April 19, 2008. Bangkok is the 12th stop of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay outside the Chinese mainland. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin said the Beijing Olympic torch relay held here will mark another historical moment in the history of bilateral relationship between Beijing and Bangkok, which celebrates the establishment of "friendship-city".

    Head of the Beijing Olympic Flame Delegation, Jiang Xiaoyu, whois vice president of the Beijing Organizing Committee of Olympic Games (BOCOG), said the delegation was very impressed by and appreciated the warm welcome displayed by the Thai government and Thai people.

    The torch relay kicked off at around 3:20 p.m. local time (0830GMT) on the hot sunny Saturday, at the ceremonial "Chinese Gate" on Yaowarat Road that marks the gateway to Bangkok's century-old China Town.

    Starting by Anant Siripasraporn, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, 80 torch bearers, selected from distinguished representatives from different walks of life including government officials, athletes, company executives, artists, students, educators, social workers and Thai-Chinese community leaders, had run through a 10.4-km-long route in Bangkok that covers the city's most renown landmarks and historical sites.

Local people performers dances during the Olympic torch in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, on April 19, 2008. Bangkok is the 12th stop of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay outside the Chinese mainland. (Xinhua Photo)