This weekend has been choc full of exciting events what with the Wimbledon finals and UEFA Euro Championships both happening on the same day. Adding to all that excitement is the arrival of the Olympic flame in Paris on Bastille Day no less. With everyone glued to their TV sets, guess who was spotted carrying the Olympic torch late last night? Chinese actor Wang Yibo who kicked off his leg on the relay at close to 23:00.
“It feels like a very special experience, carrying the torch at night and kicking off my segment at number 85 as the starting point which coincides with my birthday (August 5). I feel very honoured and happy” shared the actor in an interview with Xinhua. “I hope the Chinese team can enjoy the Olympic stage and achieve great results”.
Wang Yibo was also joined by famed pianist Lang Lang who was the first Chinese torchbearer to receive the flame in front of the Pantheon. Likewise, Chen Zhongwei who is the chairman and GM of Hengyuanxiang Group – the official supplier of IOC staff outfits, was also a torchbearer in the Paris leg.
Previously, actresses Zhao Lusi and Yang Zi have both served as torchbearers with Zhao Lusi joining the Olympic flame relay in Gers, France and Yang Zi more recently in Chaumont, France. Aside from the two young stars, Jin Dong, Tang Wei as well as Beijing Winter Olympics gold medalist Eileen Gu also represented China in the Olympic torch relay this year.
Meanwhile, kpop star Jin from the super idol group BTS was also spotted representing his country as he started his relay near the Louvre, also on July 14.
