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Torch Relay Pauses for National Mourning

Monday, 19th May 2008 ~ Maggie ~ Link ~ Comments (0)

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The Olympic torch relay will take three days off, in conjunction with the national three-day period of mourning in commemoration of the lives lost in the recent Wenchuan earthquake that devastated much of Sichuan province.

The torch relay team is currently in a holding pattern in and around Shanghai. The BOCOG Web site confirms that the relay is suspended, but offers no information about how the route will change. The Olympic flame is scheduled to arrive in Sichuan on June 15.

After its protest-heavy travels abroad, the Olympic flame within China has served as a reminder that aid is sorely needed for rescue and recovery efforts. Photographs of torchbearers leaving donations are ubiquitous in the Chinese press.

Among early reports on the relay's suspension in the mainstream media, this AP report that ran on the Sports Illustrated Web site is one of the most informative.

The three days of mourning began with three minutes of "silence" today at 2:28 p.m., exactly one week after the quake hit. The minutes of silence actually turned out to be three minutes of air-raid sirens and honking car horns in many cities, as the country cried together over the quake's devastation. How the three days of mourning will actually work remains uncertain; bars in some cities were forced to close at 11:00 on Monday night. This Shanghaiist post translates the relevant announcement from Anhui city in Hefei province, explaining how businesses are expected to observe the mourning period.

If you are looking to contribute to earthquake relief but unsure where to start, here is a guide to giving from GoKunming.

Image: Xinhua

Tags: Olympics, torch relay, Wenchuan earthquake