Special report: 2008 Olympic Games
GUANGZHOU, South China, May 7 (Xinhua) -- The torch relay stands for Olympic spirit and should not become a target of protests, former Olympic diving champion Knape Linderg said on Wednesday.
Lindberg is among the 208 torchbearers who will carry the Olympic torch in the Guangzhou leg and it's the third time for Knape-Lindberg to take part in the Olympic torch relay.
"I was so honored to become a torchbearer for the third time. The first two experiences come from Stockholm relay in 1994 Winter Games Lillehammer, Norway and 2004 Athens Games," said the 53-year-old Swedish.
Lindberg won a bulk of medals including 10m gold and 3m silver in Olympic Games 1972, 10m silver in Olympic Games 1976, 10m gold and 3m silver in 1973 World Championships.
"I look forward to the Guangzhou relay very much, and I would prefer to run slowly so as to fully enjoy the moment. I came to the city 11 years ago for the junior diving championships. Now it's a total different city and the relay experience here will stay in my memory," added Lindberg.
As to the protests that occurred during the relay's international leg, Lindberg said the torch relay is something standing for the Olympic spirit and should be respected.
"The Olympic torch relay is something shared by the world. The Olympic flame belongs to the world, not to China only. It stands for the Olympic spirit enjoyed worldwide, so it's not the target of protest," she said.
Lindberg was the coach and team leader for Sweden at 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, 2000 Olympics in Sydney and 2004 Olympics in Athens. She now works as a diving instructor in her hometown of Karlskoga.
Lindberg will lead the Swedish diving team in the Beijing Olympic Games. In talk of the diving, Chinese team's perspective is in her favor.
"Chinese divers are terrific. China has good facility and a lot of trainers. Most of Chinese divers are professional and funded by government, but in Sweden our divers need to keep a job in additional to taking training," she said.
