Postman delivers Olympic torch

　　(MARATHONAS, Greece, March 29) -- The city of Marathonas is known world-wide as the origin of the present day long-endurance "marathon" running event. However, the marathon is not only a race, it embodies the spirit of accomplishment, of working hard to achieve a seemingly insurmountable goal. In this sense, Quan Erping, a native of Inner Mongolia, has been running marathons most of his life. And now, because of his selfless spirit, he will be carrying the Beijing Olympic Torch as part of the relay in Greece.

　　Marathonas lies 26 miles away from Athens, and is the site of the most famous battle in the capital's history. In 490 BC, the Athenians rose up against the much larger Persian army, fighting a very bloody war which in the end they won. According to legend, Pheidippides, the winning team's fastest runner, was then sent to Athens to pronounce the victory. Upon reaching the city, after running at his highest speed for the 26 mile (42.2 km) journey, he shouted, "We have won!" and then promptly dropped dead from exhaustion.

　　In 1896, when the first modern-day Olympic Games was staged, planners decided to include the "marathon" race as a competitive event; athletes would test their endurance by running the same route (in length) that Pheidippides ran to serve his country.

　　Quan serves his country by working as a postman at home, and now he will serve his country by running as a torchbearer in the Olympic torch relay. Through the mountainous terrain of Inner Mongolia, Quan has shuttled letters, packages, and merchandise to his "neighbors," traveling up to 100 km every day, first via bicycle, now by motorcycle. He sees carrying the torch an honor that he will fulfill successfully for his country.

　　Marathonas marks an important stage in the 2008 Torch Relay, as from this point on, the sacred flame will stay lit without the use of special vehicles that carried the flame long distances between cities in Greece. From here till Athens, where the torch handover ceremony will take place, the sacred flame will be passed directly from torchbearer to torchbearer.

　　From Marathonas, only a "marathon" (42 km) is left to go before the torch arrives in Athens.