The Olympics were there to inspire the Chinese people even in time of the quake disaster. The Olympic rings and the characters "Gu Bai Dan" -- the Chinese transliteration of Pierre de Coubertin -- were seen on a piece of a broken bulletin board found in the rubble of a collapsed school. The news photo, taken in one of the worst hit counties, moved many people to tears.

A week after the May 12 quake, former Olympic champions flooded into the worst-hit areas as volunteers, including Gao Min and Deng Yaping. They played games with the children, hoping to soothe them.

The sorrow-stricken children in Mianyang had a long-lost smile on their faces when they learned they could play table tennis with Olympic champion paddler Chen Longcan, and play rope skipping with synchronized swimmer Li Rouping.

"It's the first time I see them smile. Sports helped open their hearts," said a volunteer.

When the Olympic torch arrived in Mianyang on Monday, quake sufferer Luo Tang'an said he knew all the time it would come. "In fact, the flame is with us all the time," he said in his temporary lodging in Pingwu County.

The quake has taken a heavy toll and toppled homes, but never dampened the nation's faith.

"On sports field or in life, hardship and disasters only make us stronger," said Tan Guoqiang, a primary school teacher from the epicenter Wenchuan County. Despite the grief over the loss of his wife in the quake, Tan and his colleagues worked day and night searching for signs of life in the rubble of their collapsed school buildings.

Out of faith, Zhao Yifu, 61, ran his own marathon by walking six hours from his temporary shelter to feed water to his horse, three bulls and at least two scores of pigs and sheep.

"We have already seen the courage and determination of the Chinese people in another context. The world mourned the staggering loss of life from the earthquake in Sichuan Province and marveled at the courageous response by the Chinese people," said International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge on Monday.

He said the Beijing Games would be a "historic" one and would significantly advance the Olympic goals of universality and fair play.