Classical violinist Vanessa Mae joined the Beijing Olympic torch relay in London at the bank of the Thames on Sunday afternoon, saying she was running for the Olympics.

Mae carried the torch from outside the South Bank Center up to the Waterloo Bridge in central London.

After finishing her part of the torch relay, she said: "It's a great honor to run in the Olympic torch relay. I'm here for the Olympics."

A huge stage was set up outside the South Bank center on Sunday, creating a spectacular welcome for the torch along the front terraces of the Royal Festival Hall with a choir of 600, Kathak, poetry, circus, hip-hop and beatboxing.

The cast is made up of young people from Lambeth, Greenwich in different parts of the capital and even Liverpool performing alongside Southbank Center's Voice Lab, Riz MC, LakaD and with input from Artists in Residence Shlomo, Lemn Sissay, Gauri Sharma Tripathi and Stan Won't Dance.

The performances draw hundreds of spectators who turned out despite the sudden wintry weather and a round of hail stones to celebrate the Olympic Torch Relay.

Many people felt strongly disturbed and offended by the protestors, who shouted slogans every time a performance was completed.

"They (the protesters) should respect the actors and actresses, who are mostly students giving free performances for the special day," said David, a man in his 40s, who has attended three Olympics Games.

"I like Olympics. It gives the top platform for everyone to play no matter they are rich or poor. These people are only using the Olympics to promote themselves," he added.

Commenting on Sunday's torch relay, Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London Organizing Committee for the Olympics Games, said: "It's exciting to see people come out to celebrate sports and the Olympic value. I went to Oxford Street relay today and found people understand what's Olympics is about."

The torch travels through ten London boroughs from Wembley in the west to Greenwich in east London, with each borough marking its arrival with entertainment and local events, bringing London's color and vibrancy to life while demonstrating the capital's famous landmarks.

The Olympic flame are planned to be carried through London by 80 torch bearers including double Olympic gold medal winner Dame Kelly Holmes, actress Amara Karan, broadcaster Trevor McDonald and England cricketer Kevin Pieterson.

Earlier, London Mayor Ken Livingstone has referred to the Olympic Torch Relay as uniting nations in the run-up to the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

"It is a great honor for our city to participate in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay and once again extend our friendship and cooperation to other nations," he said, adding, "This year's Olympic Torch Relay is especially significant to London as we will be the next Olympic host city.

"This is a great opportunity for London to experience the excitement and opportunities that the Games will bring us in 2012," noted the mayor.

Following the London leg of the Olympic Torch Relay, the torch will travel to Paris for its fifth leg in the global tour.

(Xinhua News Agency April 7, 2008)