Beijing Olympics: Jackie Chan carries Olympic flame atop Great Wall
ByBob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Carrying the torch: Actor Jackie Chan carried the Olympic flame on top of the Great Wall of China on Thursday. (Ng Han Guan/Associated Press )
(Ng Han Guan/Associated Press )
ByBob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
BEIJING — Actor Jackie Chan took part in the Olympic torch relay atop the Great Wall of China, taking turns carrying the flame with Chinese Olympic medalists.
It was the second day of the three-day relay on the ancient wall, Reuters reported. The route that is part of the relay leading up to the Winter Games was shortened due to COVID-19 concerns, according to the news outlet.
The Games begin on Friday in Beijing and conclude on Feb. 20.
Chan, 67, is known for his martial arts and his roles in action and comedy films, including “Police Story,” “Rush Hour,” “Shanghai Nights” and “Chinese Zodiac.”
He was born in Hong Kong and is known for his support of the Beijing government, was identified in the official news release by his Chinese name, Chen Gangsheng, Reuters reported.
“I woke up at 4 a.m. This is my fourth Olympics,” Chan told reporters. “I’m very happy. I’m also cold!”
The temperature along the Badaling section of the Great Wall, where Chan carried the flame, was 12 degrees, Reuters reported. Others carrying the silver-spiral torch included table tennis Olympic gold medalist Ma Long and Wu Jingyu, a two-time gold medalist in tae kwon do.
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Photos: Jackie Chan through the years Here are some memorable photos of actor Jackie Chan through the years. (S&G/PA Images via Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 1980: Hong Kong actor and martial arts expert Jackie Chan demonstrates his remarkable agility during a visit to the UK, to promote his latest film "The Big Brawl," on October 15, 1980. (Monti Spry/Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 1996: Jackie Chan stars in the movie "SuperCop." (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 1997: Jackie Chan embeds his hands and feet in Mann's Chinese Theatre cement on Jan. 5, 1997, in Hollywood, California. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 1998: Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan star in the movie "Rush Hour." (Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 1999: Jackie Chan arrives at the MTV Movie Awards held at the Barkar Hangar, Santa Monica Airport, on June 5, 1999, in Santa Monica, California. (Dan Callister/Online USA Inc./Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2000: Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson In "Shanghai Noon." (Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2001: Actor Jackie Chan arrives at the launch of United Airlines "Rush Hour Express" on July 26, 2001, in Los Angeles. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2002: Jackie Chan at the premiere of "The Tuxedo" at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2002. (Kevin Winter/Imagedirect/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2003: Actor Jackie Chan arrives at the premiere of "Shanghai Knights" at the El Capitan Theatre on February 3, 2003, in Los Angeles. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2004: Actor Jackie Chan arrives at the premiere of Disney's "Around the World in 80 Days" at the El Capitan Theatre on June 13, 2004, in Los Angeles. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2005: Actor Jackie Chan poses in front of Cologne Cathedral prior to the premiere of his film, "New Police Story," on October 10, 2005, in Cologne, Germany. (Juergen Schwarz/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2006: Actor Jackie Chan presents the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor or Actress at the Closing Ceremony of the 63rd Venice Film Festival on September 9, 2006, in Venice, Italy. (Elisabetta Villa/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2007: Actors Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan attend the premiere of the New Line Cinema film "Rush Hour 3" at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on July 30, 2007, in Hollywood, California. (Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2008: Actors Liu Fengchao (left), Jackie Chan and Wang Wenjie attend the "Le Silence de Lorna" premiere at the Palais des Festivals during the 61st International Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2008, in Cannes, France. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2010: Jackie Chan (left) and Jaden Smith arrive at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards held at the Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal Studios on June 6, 2010, in Universal City, California. (Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2011: Zhang Ziyi and Jackie Chan arrive at the red carpet of the first Beijing International Film Festival at China's National Grand Theater on April 23, 2011, in Beijing, China. (Feng Li/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2012: Actors Laura Weissbecker, Jackie Chan and Caitlin Dechelle attend "In Conversation With ... Jackie Chan" premiere during the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival at Princess of Wales Theatre on September 9, 2012, in Toronto, Canada. (Jemal Countess/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2013: Actor Jackie Chan makes hand imprints during the Jackie Chan Hand and Foot Print Ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre on June 6, 2013, in Hollywood, California. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2014: Jackie Chan attends a photocall to introduce a special screening of "Chinese Zodiac" at BFI Southbank on August 12, 2014, in London. (Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2015: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Madame Peng Liyuan, talk with Kung-Fu star Jackie Chan as they attend a "Creative Collaborations: UK & China" event at Lancaster House on October 21, 2015, in London. (Heathcliff O'Malley - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2016: Honoree Jackie Chan accepts his award during the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' eighth annual Governors Awards at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center on November 12, 2016, in Hollywood, California. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2017: Actor Jackie Chan attends the 89th annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017, in Hollywood, California. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2019: Jackie Chan signs copies of his new book "Never Grow Up" at Barnes & Noble, Fifth Avenue, on January 22, 2019, in New York City. (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2020: Li Ning (left), Jackie Chan, Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade attend the Li-Ning Menswear Fall/Winter 2020-2021 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 18, 2020, in Paris. (Francois Durand/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2022: Actor Jackie Chan holds the Olympic Torch at the Badaling Great Wall on the second day of the torch relay in Beijing on February 3, 2022, a day before the start of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games. (NOEL CELIS/AFP via Getty Images)
