With iconic landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, the Transamerican Building and the famous Victorian houses, San Francisco is an ideal backdrop as the world looks on to the extraordinary event, according to the mayor.

He voiced hope that the coming relay would be held with the Olympic spirit which is to unite people.

"Speaking as the mayor of San Francisco, I am a firm believer that Olympics is to unite the people and the world through sports," Newsom said.

"The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle.

"The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well."

Calling the relay a symbol of international unity, the mayor acknowledged that the Olympic torch relay bears great significance for spreading the Olympic spirit, promoting mutual understanding among different peoples in the world and safeguarding world peace.

"I am also very proud to announce that San Francisco's theme for our leg of the Olympic torch relay is 'A Sustainable Journey'", the mayor said.

"This concept refers to 'sustainability' both in terms of the Olympic journey, which began with the Ancient Olympics in Greece in 776 BC but in modern times has become an effort to foster world-wide comradeship and peace.

"It also resonates with San Francisco's deserved reputation as the U.S. leader in environmental and sustainable awareness and practices."

Candidates for torchbearing have submitted essays that articulated what sustains them or how they are working towards a more sustainable community, nation or world, according to the mayor.

Newsom said he expected the Beijing Olympics to be "a very successful event that can be examples for the world".

"I am very confident that the Beijing Olympics will be a very successful event that can be examples for the world," the mayor said.

The mayor also congratulated the Chinese people on a successful launch of Beijing Olympic torch relay on March 31, 2008.

"San Francisco has always been proud of our strong cultural ties to China and Beijing," the mayor said.

He said 39 percent of San Francisco's residents were born in another country with 28 percent of these foreign born residents coming from China and the Chinese community in San Francisco became the largest and most vibrant in America.

(Xinhua News Agency April 8, 2008)