October 9, AM – The flame of the 16^th Asian Games flame has been successfully collected at the Juyong Pass of Great Wall in Beijing. Wang Yang, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee attended the ceremony and announced the opening of the flame collection.

Officiating guests at the ceremony included Liu Peng, the President of the 16^th Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee, Minister of the General Administration of Sport of China and President of the Chinese Olympic Committee. Guo Jinlong, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Mayor of Beijing. Huang Huahua, the Executive President of 16^th Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and Governor of Guangdong Province. Feng Jianzhong, the Vice President of the 16^th Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee and Vice Minister of General Administration of Sport of China. Liu Jingmin, Vice Mayor of Beijing Municipality. Zhu Xiaodan, the Vice President of the 16^th Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee, Member of the Standing Committee of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of CPC and Executive Vice Governor of Guangdong Province. Zhang Guangning, the Vice President of the 16^th Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee, Member of the Standing Committee of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of CPC and Secretary of CPC Guangzhou Municipal Committee. Li Ronggen, the Vice President of the 2010 Asian Para Games Organizing Committee and Vice Governor of Guangdong Province. Lin Musheng, the Vice President of the 16^th Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee and Vice Governor of Guangdong Province. Zhang Guifang, the Director of the Standing Committee of Guangzhou Municipal People's Congress and Lin Yuanhe, the Chairman of CPPCC Guangzhou Municipal Committee. The ceremony was presided over by Wan Qingliang, the Vice President of the 16^th Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee, Deputy Secretary of CPC Guangzhou Municipal Committee and Mayor of Guangzhou.

Escorted by the honor guard, the National Flag of People's Republic of China and Flag of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) made the way to the Great Wall's watchtower, the main venue of the ceremony. At 10:00 AM sharp, the flame collection ceremony started. Zhang Guangning, Guo Jinlong and Liu Peng addressed the ceremony after the national anthem of People's Republic of China and OCA hymn were played.   

In his speech, Zhang Guangning stated that Guangzhou laid the solid foundation for 16^th Asian Games since its successful application in July, 2004. Party Central Committee, State Council, Provincial Party Committee and government of Guangdong offered all the guidance, while cordial advices were given by General Administration of Sport of China and great support came from the Olympic Council of Asia, Olympic committees of all the Asian countries (regions). Aiming at the "Thrilling Games, Harmonious Asia", Guangzhou set detail schedules for the building of venues, arrangement on the competitions as well as publicity and promotion.

Guangzhou is fully confident to host a world-class sport event of "Chinese characteristics, Guangdong style, Guangzhou glamour". Guangzhou is contributing her share to the development of sports in Asia, promotion of Olympic spirit, and the peace, friendship and progress among Asians.

Guo Jinlong said in his speech that the 16^th Asian Games flame will soon be ignited at the world famous Juyongguan Great Wall, a starting place for Asian Games flame symbolizing civilization, friendship, peace and unity. The flame carries the wishing blessings from the capital city's people to all over China and marches to the Flower City in the South, playing the magnificent musical piece of "Thrilling Games, Harmonious Asia". The Great Wall is a world wonder built by our forefathers, a symbol and pride of Chinese nation. The ignition of 16^th Asian Games flame at the Juyongguan Great Wall is a full reflection of Chinese people's virtues-- hard working, courageous, intelligent, wise, a manifest of our nation's character and ethnic spirit, an expression of our strong conviction and wishes looking for friendship and peace.

Liu Peng mentioned in this speech that Asian Games is a holiday for all Asians, an event for people in Asian countries to spread peace and progress. We warmly welcome the arrival of this ceremonious moment and cheer with all Asians on the peace, progress, and friendship of mankind under the banner of "Thrilling Games, Harmonious Asia". Host Guangzhou will organize a hugely successful Asian Games and make her significant contribution to the prosperity of Olympic Games in Asia, to the unity, friendship, harmony and cooperation among the people in all countries/regions of Asia.

To conclude the ceremony, Wang Yang, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, announced: "The collection of 16^th Asian Games flame starts!"

With the beautiful ancient music at the background, 17 young girls dressing in white walked up the Great Wall slope to the watchtower. The young girl collecting the flame stood in the middle with another two young girls at her back holding the torch and flame plate. The young girls, dressed in white, came to the watchtower and welcomed the guests from all sides with beautiful dancing steps. Then came the silence and everybody waited for this moment. Kang Chenchen, the young girl collecting the flame, held the torch and half knelt down in front of the concave mirror . Thanks to the weather, the sun shone just directly on the concave mirror. One minute, two minutes, everybody held the breath and waited in complete silence. All of a sudden, applause and music filled the air again as soon as a sparkle ignited the torch. Kang Chenchen held the torch high up to show the 16^th Asian Game flame to all sides.

Kang Chenchen passed the torch to Huang Huahua, the Executive President of 16^th Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and Governor of Guangdong Province. Huang Huahua took over the torch and ignited the flame plate in the hands of the other young girl. Three honor guards used the flame in the plate to ignite the flame lantern and walked away estorting the lantern. At this point, the 16^th Asian Games Flame Collection Ceremony was declared closed successful.   

As related, after this Asian Games Flame Collection Ceremony, the 16^th Asian Games Torch Lighting & Torch Relay Launch Ceremony will be held on October 12 at the Beijing's Temple of Heaven. Then the torch will travel from Beijing to Zhongshan (Guangdong Province), Harbin (Heilongjiang Province), Changchun (Jilin Province), Haiyang (Shandong Province), back to Guangdong to go around 20 cities in Guangdong Province (except Zhongshan) and arrive at the venue of Guangzhou Asian Games' opening ceremony on November 12.