Beijing launches weather services for Olympic torch relay

Beijing's meteorological authorities have launched a mechanism to ensure weather forecasts for the arrival of the Olympic flame from Greece on March 31.

On the afternoon of March 26, a special forecast report marked with the Olympic rings and the logo of the Beijing Olympic torch relay was delivered to relevant departments, indicating the start of the weather services for the welcome ceremony which also marks the launch of the torch relay on Chinese territory.

As part of the weather services for the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the forecast for the torch relay has been a special focus of attention. A leading group led by the director of the Beijing Meteorological Bureau, Xie Pu, was set up to define tasks for related departments.

The current forecast covers Beijing's weather conditions from March 26 to April 1, including the torch welcome ceremony. It also provides information about air quality and shows meteorological indices, providing a warning system for disastrous weather conditions, according to the China Meteorological Newspaper.

The torch for the Beijing Olympics was lit for the first time successfully in Olympia, Greece, on March 24. After six days of travel in Greece, the relay will end at Panathinaiko Stadium, the site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, where it will be handed over to BOCOG. The flame will arrive in Beijing on March 31, 2008, and following a ceremony, the relay will continue in China until the start of the Games on August 8.