2008-04-19 13:55:33 - Deputy prime minister, Sanan Kachornprasart, was the first of 80 runners to set off from Chinatown. "We reaffirm our position that we clearly separate politics and sport," AFP news agency quoted him as saying. "Thailand is ready to organise the torch relay peacefully and orderly."

The head of Thailand's Olympic Commitee, General Yuthasak Sasiprapha, said he expected the relay to pass off without major disruption. "There are not many Tibetans in Thailand, but there are local human rights groups and pro-democracy groups who are planning some kind of operation at the moment," he said. "However our police will handle the operations gently and prevent any

offences occurring." The torch and runners are being escorted by police patrols and motorcycles all along the route


Thailand Chief Guests at the venue were Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart, Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin, Beijing Chief Guest were vice-president of the Beijing Olympics Organising Committee Jing Xiaoyu and Chinese ambassador to Thailand Zhang Jiuhuan were present at the ceremony held at Chinatown.There was minor incident of scuffle when two Tibetan person tried to unfurl Tibetan flag which was soon overpowered by the Thai and chinese crowd at the Chinatown.

The Chinese plane carrying the Beijing Olympic Flame arrived on early Friday in Bangkok, the 12th leg of its global torch relay after finishing the last stop in New Dehli, India.The plane landed at the Sixth Airport of Royal Thai Air Force attached to the Don Mueang airport in north of Bangkok at 2:25 a.m. Friday (1925 GMT, Thursday), April 18.

A Thailand official said that there is plans to deploy 2,000 police and soldiers in Bangkok with helicopter escorting on air to keep out pro Tibetan supporters amd anti China protesters and to assure Bangkok relay is carried out without any incident. FORUM-ASIA, group has promised to hold a rally on Saturday to protest China's plans to bring the torch to Tibet.

Eighty torchbearers from Thailand will take part in the relay, which is schedule to begins at the Chinatown Gate at 3pm Thailand time actually started at 3.15PM and ends at the Royal Plaza.Deputy city clerk Anant Siripasaraporn is the first of the torch-bearer Chief Guests at the venue were Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart, Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin, vice-president of the Beijing Olympics Organising Committee Jing Xiaoyu and Chinese ambassador to Thailand Zhang Jiuhuan were present at the ceremony held at Chinatown, where a few hundred onlookers gathered to take part in the event. The last leg will be completed by Paveena Thongsuk, a 2004 Olympics weightlifting gold medallist, eghty torchbeares complete the 10-kilometre route to a plaza near the Royal Palace.

(live-PR.com) - New Delhi run of Olympic flame an incident free attended by more than 18000 cops at prestigeous venue of India Gate a memorial of world war I was a sight of fort with sea of cops all around with handful of children. To add to it Tibetan's parallel relay made Center Delhi street with Tibetans and their flags all around who were keen to put their pont of view about Chinese government .An event to vent their feeling against Chinese government, 'signified the freedom of Tibet and humanity'.After the New Delhi relay the next destination was Bangkok,capital of Thailand.

Jiang Xiaoyu (C), executive vice president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games (BOCOG), displayed the lantern which holds the Olympic flame as he walks out of the plane at an airport in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, April 18, 2008. Bangkok is the 12th leg of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay on global tour.

The Olympic Flame delegation from Beijing, headed by Jiang Xiaoyu, vice president of the Beijing Organizing Committee of Olympic Games (BOCOG), was welcomed by Thai officials including General Yuthasak Sasiprapha, President of National Olympic Committee of Thailand (NOCT), NOCT Secretary-General Major GeneralCharouck Arirachakaran, vice secretary-general Valin Tansuphasiri, as well as Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Zhang Jiuhuan.

Yuthasak poised for photos with Jiang holding the flame lantern, after the latter touched the Thai ground before an army of photographers and reporters waiting to catch the moment.

This is the first time the Olympic Torch Relay, initiated at the Berlin 1936 Olympic Games, is run on the soil of Thailand. Bangkok is the 12th leg of the global tour of the Beijing Olympic Flame.

On Thursday, banners and billboards have been set up with the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay slogan 'Light the Passion, Share the Dream' and logos dotted the sides along the route.

Starting at 3:00 p.m. (0800 GMT) Saturday afternoon, 80 torch bearers, selected from distinguished representatives from different walks of life including government officials, athletes, company executives, artists, students, educators, social workers and Thai-Chinese community leaders, will run through a 10.4-km-long route in Bangkok that covers the city's most re-known landmarks and historic sites.

Olympic torch of Bangkok realy is methodically planned with sense of responsibility to get it completed with complete success and people enjoying the run.
Olympic torch relay further destination includes a next visit to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, April 22 in Jakarta in Indonesia, April 24 in Canberra in Australia, South Korea, Japan and Vietnam before returning to Beijing for the Games in August.