体坛英语新闻：Sacred flame arouses Olympic passions among Istanbul citizens

ISTANBUL, April 1 (Xinhua) -- The citizens of Turkey's largest city Istanbul have been in full swing for the upcoming Beijing Olympics torch relay, regarding it as a new opportunity for the two countries to cooperate in sports and promote themselves.

    Posters with Chinese characters and Turkish which reads "Light the Passion, Share the Dream" were set around the streets of Istanbul, reminding the citizens and tourists that the Olympic flame is around the corner.

    Yacin Aksoy, general director of the Preparation and Organization Council for the Islanbul Olympic Games, told Xinhua that China's preparations for the Olympics is "pretty good," adding that "Both China and Turkey will benefit from the uNPRecedented and well-planned Olympics in Beijing this summer."

    "It is the most well-prepared Olympic Games I have ever seen," Aksoy said.

    Hilmi Aydin, 44, curator of the famous Topkapi Palace Museum, said the museum receives more and more Chinese guests due to China's booming economy, and the Beijing Olympics is a good chance for China to show its history and culture, and also, a good chance to promote Istanbul and Turkey.

    "I will certainly go to the scene that day and I am sure most Turks will take part in the torch relay in their respective ways," Aydin said.

    Topkapi Palace Museum, a must-go of Istanbul which has numerous classical antiquities, manuscripts, ceramics, armour, textiles and particularly a large collection of more than 10 thousand pieces of ancient oriental china, is just a few minutes walk from the Hagia Sophia Museum where the torch relay will kick off on Thursday.

    "I believe that China will overcome all kinds of difficulties, including terrorism threats, and host an excellent Olympic Games," Aydin added.

    Today, the Hagia Sophia Museum is more jubilant than usual despite dark clouds in the sky. Colourful banners flaunting in the breeze have been set around the museum with the slogan "Light the Passion, Share the Dream" printed on it.

    The unfriendly weather did not mar Burak' business. Burak, 24, who runs a small souvenir booth opposite to the museum, told Xinhua that the Olympics will boost economic and cultural exchanges between different nations. "It is not just a matter of sports," Burak said.

    "It is also a golden opportunity for my own business because the relay will surely attract lots of tourists," Burak added.

    Ismail, 42, a veteran taxi driver in Istanbul, said that the Beijing Olympics is a great event for both China and the world, and a successful Olympics will be a milestone of China's development.

    "I heard of the relay from local TV. Turkey should learn from China in its bid for the Olympic Games. We must improve our economic and transportation infrastructure as well as publicity," he said.

    Istanbul failed to host the Olympic Games in four consecutive bids including 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012.

    "Istanbul is an ideal city to host the Games, so we will never give up," he said.

    Though he is proud of his national football team which impresses the world recently, "my favorite game in Beijing Olympics will be wrestling, I hope our wrestlers could win many medals in Beijing," he said.

    Istanbul, the only city in the world located on two continents -- Asia and Europe, will hold the 17.8km relay on April 3 after the first leg of the 21-city global torch relay in Kazakhstan's biggest city Almaty on April 2.