Special report: 2008 Olympic Games

Torchbearer Wang Jun runs with the torch during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Baise, southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, June 8, 2008.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BOSE, Southwest China, June 8 (Xinhua) -- The Beijing Olympic torch relay in Baise of southwestern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region was adjusted on Sunday to avoid affecting China's College Entrance exam which coincided with the relay.

    The English test, the last part of the exam, was set to be held simultaneously across China from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., while the torch relay's original starting time in downtown Baise was scheduled at 1:00 p.m., which meant the relay could affect the examinees.

    "In order to ensure both the torch relay and the exam were not affected, Guangxi Olympic organizing committee decided to change the torch relay's original route and timetable," Cen Hankang, Deputy Director of the Administration of Sports of Guangxi, said.

    "The main thing considered is to reduce as much as possible the torch relay's influence on the exam, with the original route changed to avoid the exam sites and the original starting time for the torch relay delayed three hours to 4:00 p.m."

    In order to ensure that people's cheers would not affect the examinees, the relay was limited within 7 kilometers to make sure that the torch passed the first exam site after 5:00 p.m. when the exam would have finished. Meanwhile, guards persuaded the crowd not to cheer too loudly.

    In addition, during the Olympic torch relay in Baise, "Green Passage" was set up for the examinees who were given priority to use the roads under traffic control when necessary.

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