The Beijing Olympic torch relay in Zhengzhou, capital city of China's most populous Henan province, started at 8:08 a.m. on Friday morning at the Henan Art Center Plaza.

Xu Guangchun, the provincial governor, proclaimed the start of the torch relay amid people's exclamation and cheers. Zhengzhou, dubbed as "Green City" for its flourish vegetation, is the first city to embrace the Olympic torch in the province.

The first leg was run by Zhang Rongfang, a former Chinese women volleyball player and national team captain. Zhang is now a senior official with China's General Administration Bureau of Sport in charge of volleyball.

Altogether 208 torchbearers will participate in the 7.6-kilometer relay in Zhengzhou.

Source:Xinhua