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Anonymous
>>76364 NAGANO, Japan, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Big names and celebrities carried the Olympic torch through Nagano, the host city of the 1998 Winter Games, attracting thousands of Chinese students and local residents celebrating along the itinerary on Saturday.
Thousands of Chinese students waving red flags and signs such as "One World, One Dream, One China" gathered in Nagano outside the setting-off site.
Supporters holding Chinese flags, mixed with some Japanese and Olympic emblems, lined the relay route. Eighty torch bearers took part in the 18.7 km (12 mile) relay through the city, including passing the Olympic stadium M-Wave.
The relay was started by Senichi Hoshino, the manager of Japan's national baseball team.
Senichi Hoshino is a former Japanese professional baseball player and manager.
In 2003, he led the Tigers to their first Central League pennant in 18 years before retiring for health reasons. On January25, 2007, it was announced that he would manage the Japanese national team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
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