THE Olympic torch relay in quake-hit Sichuan has been postponed until just before the Games in August, state media said today, as local authorities focused on recovery efforts.
Zhu Ling, head of Sichuan`s torch relay event, told Xinhua news agency the flame would tour some of the province between August 3 and 5, meaning it would finish just three days before the opening ceremony.
"Due to the earthquake, the Mianyang, Guanghan and Dujiangyan legs might be cancelled,`` Xinhua quoted Zhu Ling as saying.
The three towns were severely damaged by the 8.0-magnitude earthquake, which hit Sichuan on May 12, killing over 68,900 people and leaving nearly 18,000 missing.
The Olympic torch relay - designed to showcase the nation`s rise as a peaceful power - has suffered a series of mishaps since it started its journey at the beginning of April.
The London, Paris and San Francisco legs of the relay were interrupted by pro-Tibet protesters objecting to China`s crackdown on violence in Lhasa, the capital of the Himalayan region, that erupted on March 14.
In mainland China, the torch has suffered from the over-enthusiasm of huge crowds, which has forced organisers to put out the flame on several occasions.
The relay was also postponed last week during the three-day mourning period for the victims of the earthquake.
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