The Olympic torch relay will help Macao residents better understand the Olympic spirit, a Macao legislator said on Saturday.

"I feel very happy and honored to run the last leg of the Olympic torch relay as it is a major historical event in Macao," said Leong Heng Teng, the last torch bearer of the Olympic torch relay in Macao.

"I think the Macao leg of the Olympic torch relay will help Macao residents better understand our motherland and the Olympic spirit," added Leong, a member of the Legislative Council of the Macao Special Administrative Region.

Leong, aged 61 and a well-respected figure in Macao, has been involved in social work for many years. He is also a member of the Executive Council of the Macao Special Administrative Region government.

The Macao leg of the Beijing Olympic torch relay kicked off on Saturday afternoon. A total of 120 torchbearers will participate in the relay, including athletes, political figures and business tycoons. Local martial art athlete Leong Hong Man will be the first torchbearer.

"Ever since Beijing won the bid to host 2008 Olympic Games, Macao people have longed for the coming of the year of 2008," Leong said. "I think the torch relay will help Macao people fulfill their dream of being a part of the Beijing Olympics."

Leong has a long history of participating in sports event. He used to be head of the Macao basketball team when he was young.

He said that the Olympic Games are attractive just because they create a platform for people of different countries and races to compete in a fair manner, enabling people to better understand each other.

"The Olympics is a pure sport event," he said, adding that Macao people were unhappy about disruptions of the torch relay during the Beijing Olympic flame's global journey.

"There is no reason to disrupt such a good event," he said.

He said since Macao return to the motherland in 1999, more sports facilities have been built in Macao.

"I think after the torch relay, more people are likely to participate sports event," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 3, 2008)