Clouds cleared enough on Thursday morning to allow the sun to ignite the Beijing Paralympic flame, and the organizers believed it boded well.

"We were worried about the weather before the ceremony, but the sun appeared just in time," said Tang Xiaoquan, executive vice president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG).

"The Paralympic flame lighting ceremony was very successful. I think it boded that the Beijing Paralympics will be running smoothly," she added.

The flame-lighting ceremony was held at the ancient Temple of Heaven, a gateway between the earth and the sky in Chinese traditional concept.

Tang, who is also a senior official of the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF), said that they had backup plans in place as the Beijing Meteorological Bureau forecast an overcast day for the Chinese capital on Thursday.

"We had collected the kindling yesterday and the day before yesterday. So if we could not light the torch due to unfavorable weather, we could carry out the Plan B," she said.

Jiang Xintian, the 23-year-old girl who ignited the flame out of a concave, burnished mirror, said she was worried about the weather, too.

"When I watched the sky this morning, I was quite worried. My mother and I had prayed for times, hoping that the lighting ceremony would be successful," said Jiang, who has hearing impairment.

"During the ceremony, the sun did come out, which made me very excited."

The lighting ceremony also marked the start of a nine-day torch relay as the sacred flame was then sent to Xi'an in northwest China and Shenzhen in the south, where the relay will be launched on Friday and Saturday respectively.

A total of 850 torchbearers will participate in the torch relay along two routes through 11 Chinese provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities.

Tang said that with the enormous support from Chinese government and people, more feats wait to be seen during the September 6-17 Paralympics.

"The opening ceremony will be very brilliant, which will highlight humane care, spirit of braveness and confidence and communication between hearts," she said.

About 4,000 disabled athletes from around the world will compete in the Beijing Paralympics, with the opening ceremony being held at the National Stadium, better known as the Bird's Nest.

(Xinhua News Agency August 29, 2008)