Special report: 2008 Olympic Games

    JINGZHOU, Central China, June 2 (Xinhua) -- American Jonathan Kos-Read, who names himself after ancient Chinese strategist Cao Cao, said his dream had come true by running in the Olympic torch relay in Jingzhou, the most coveted city in the ancient Chinese history.

    "I'm so excited to deliver the torch in Jingzhou. It made my 'Three Kingdoms' dream come true," said the American.

    Cao Cao was one of the most powerful rulers in the Three Kingdoms Period more than 1,700 years ago.

    "Cao Cao was one of the wisest figures in the Chinese history. This name is also easy to remember. So I take this Chinese name," he said.

    Having lived in Beijing for 11 years, the 35-year-old American speaks Beijing dialect, married a Beijing girl and has a baby with her. He has starred in more than 60 films and television shows.

    "I've been a Beijing native," he said proudly.

    Kos-Read said he was so excited to run in Jingzhou, where major events of the Three Kingdom Period took place.