“Excited!  Proud!  I cannot describe my feelings when I received the Olympic Torch, which not only conveys the Olympic dream and ethnic solidarity, but also ignites our passions and our dreams for the future.  As a daughter of the grasslands, I am quite honored to be a member of Air China.  I want to say:  Go Inner Mongolia!  Go Air China come on!”  These were the sincere comments given by Han Lei, a torchbearer from Air China’s Inner Mongolia Branch, when she received the Olympic Torch.

On July 8, 2008, under a sunny sky in Hohhot, colorful banners fluttered in a carnival-like atmosphere.  It was then that the Olympic flame started its relay in this beautiful green city north of the great wall, beginning its tour of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the paradise of grasslands.  Two Air China staff members from the Inner Mongolia Branch participated in the relay in Hohhot.  Han Lei, the 163^rd torchbearer, is the manger of the 3^rd division of the cabin service department and Wang Yandong, the 164^th torchbearer, is the leader of the 15^th squadron of Air China’s aviation security.

At 9:00 a.m., basketball player Mengke Bateer, held the torch high, stepped over the starting line and officially began the relay.  At the same time, the Mongolian Chopsticks Dance, the Shaman Dance of the Man nationality, and the awe-inspiring Gong and Drum of northwest demonstrated the local traditions of this autonomous region.  There were 208 bearers awaiting the arrival of the torch.  Air hostesses and staff from the ground services and business departments made up Air China’s Inner Mongolia Branch’s cheering team.  Dressed in uniform, they arrived at the site early that morning to watch the activity and cheer for the torchbearers.

At 10:30 a.m., the Olympic Torch, carrying the passions and dreams of all Chinese arrived at the starting point for Han Lei, the 163^rd torchbearer. She enthusiastically lit the torch as the flame blended in with the red national flag waved by the cheering team.As cameras flashed, Han Lei smiled and presented to all the image of Air China as well as the spirit of the Olympics.  Guarded by torch escorts, she held the torch high as she completed the distance of 30 meters.The crowd cheered her on as she carried with her the dreams of Air China’s Inner Mongolia Branch – the dreams for the development of the autonomous region.  Taking over the torch, air security guard Wang Yandong, the 164^th torchbearer, ran slowly with conviction, prudence and determination.He greeted the crowd with a wave of the torch building even more enthusiasm within the Branch’s cheering team. Waving the national flag and banners, their passion touched everyone in the crowd as they shouted “Go Olympics!  Go Beijing!Go China!”During an interview with Inner Mongolian TV, a staff member from the Branch said excitedly “It is of great significance for me to personally watch the Olympic torch relay in my hometown, here in the grasslands on such a special day.I’ll remember it as long as I live.As a member of Air China, I hope to see the prosperity of our motherland and a bright future for Air China!”At this point, cheers from the crown reached a pinnacle with the innermost blessings from Air China men, higher up in the sky into the paradise of grasslands.

As a grass-roots manager and chief attendant in the Mongolia Branch, torchbearer Han Lei has been engaged in air service for more than ten years.  Her innovative management of younger staff has earned the cabin service departments 3^rd division advanced unit awards three times.  Han Lei has been named outstanding CPC member of Air China and recognized as a highly skilled female staff member in the group.  Air marshal, Wang Yandong ensures aviation security and has successfully handled several special incidents.  His squadron has become powerful, effective and cohesive under his leadership.

Han Lei and Wang Yandong regarded their roles as torchbearers with the same seriousness of manning a flight.  They began exercising over a month ago and whenever they had no flight tasks, they would run in the morning to prepare for the upcoming relay.  They participated in many hours of training with the final preparatory phase on July 7, 2008.They actively took part in the mobilizing meeting with the torch relay organizing committee to familiarize themselves with the lighting of the torch, the takeover and transfer, as well as the relay route.  These two torchbearers are very fond of the Olympics.  Han Lei enjoys purchasing Olympic books and the lovely Fuwa and Wang Yandong is familiar with the history of the Olympic torch relay and often talks about it at length with great interest.

The Inner Mongolia Branch attaches great importance to the torch relay task.  The party committee held a special meeting to develop the Program on Participating in the Olympic Torch Relay.  This required interactive responses between the Production Command Center and the Department of the Party and the Masses Affairs, timely communication with the Hohhot Municipal Government and full cooperation among various units. Participants were required to treat this as an important opportunity to promote the brand and image of Air China in the Inner Mongolian Region.  As one of the Olympic partners, this was a special chance to show the best possible professional attainment and image of the vast numbers of staff at the Branch.

The 208 torchbearers, from all walks of life, participated in the Olympic torch relay in Hohhot, carrying the torch a total distance of 6.2 km.On July 9, 2008, the Olympic Torch started its relay in Erdos and Baotou.