SOUTH KOREA’S leg of the Beijing Olympics torch relay was conducted under tight security yesterday in Seoul, the site of the 1988 Summer Olympics.

The first of 80 runners started the 24-kilometer journey at Olympic Park at about 2 p.m. local time, escorted by authorities on horseback, motorcycles and helicopters, with 8,000 riot police lining the streets. More than 10,000 flag-waving Chinese students cheered the relay.

“Each time the Olympic Games will change the city and the country. Like what happened in Seoul and South Korea after the 1998 Games, the economy enjoyed fast development and was recognized by the world. I think the same will happen for China,” said Kim Jung-kil, the (South) Korean Olympic Committee president.

Chang Nara, a South Korean singer and actress well known in China, was the 65th runner. “I can see the great efforts made in Olympic preparation in recent years when I was in Beijing. Beijing is undergoing daily change. It’s a great spirit for Chinese worldwide to unite together for a successful Olympic Games,” said Chang.

The torch will travel to Pyongyang today, capital of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the 18th city in the relay, before heading to Vietnam, Hong Kong and Macao.(SD-Xinhua)