The Olympic Torch passed through Shenzhen on Thursday.   I failed to get a glimpse of it, having meetings strategically placed throughout the day.   That’s a pitiful excuse but that’s how it happened.

The Olympics are a huge deal in China.   There is a lot of national pride and unity on display here.   I saw part of the torch relay on TV at my office – each runner, dressed in red and white, would take it for a short distance, something like 200m then hand it off to the next relayer.   All the while, the torch bearers were followed by three assistants dressed in blue and white.   Behind them, on either side, was a small strike force of what I’m assuming were defenders dressed in yellow and black to protect the torch bearer.   There were maybe twenty of them.   At one point, I saw a small kid, maybe 5-7, run out on to the street who was quickly scooped up by one of the defenders and deposited…somewhere else.

A second time that I passed by the TV, the scene looked completely chaotic:   even though the torch bearer was still running as best they could, they were closely surrounded by hundreds of fans; the assistants and defenders were doing their best, but they were overwhelmed.   Fortunately, these fans were just enthusiastic, not troublemakers.   I believe that’s what you’re seeing in the first picture below.

There were several foreigners who participated in the relay, which was a display of China showing it’s openness to the world.   However, I did hear reports (twice removed so unconfirmed) that some foreign spectators were whisked away from the scene of the torch to prevent any potential “Free Tibet” moments.   I can’t say I blame them entirely, but that’s too bad if true.

(l-r) The torch is down there somewhere, I didn’t hear any reports about how long the trees were able to hold out.   I received these pictures from multiple sources. I’m not exactly sure who took the pictures, probably the local news station.