Four Chinese athletes proudly participated in the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics torch relay in Greece on Thursday, highlighting international unity and Olympic spirit.
On Thursday, the Olympic torch relay continued its second day in Greece, with four Chinese athletes participating in the symbolic event near the iconic Rio-Antirrio Bridge close to Patras, Greece's third-largest city.
The torch relay, which began in Ancient Olympia on Wednesday, is set to cover 2,200 kilometers across seven Greek provinces and 23 cities before the flame is handed over to the Italian organizers in Athens on December 4.
Representing China were gymnast Zhang Boheng, track and field athlete Chen Yujie, basketball player Wang Siyu, and trail runner Wu Yongbo. The group joined local torchbearers in carrying the Olympic flame close to the bridge connecting the Peloponnese Peninsula to mainland Greece.
"I feel incredibly proud to participate in this torch relay on behalf of Chinese athletes and the national gymnastics team. This is a great encouragement for me personally," said Zhang Boheng.
"I hope all Chinese winter sports athletes can achieve great results. I want to see everyone fulfill their dreams, enjoy the games, and show their best in Milan," said Wu Yongbo.
The torch relay follows the traditional ceremony held in Ancient Olympia, where the Olympic flame was ignited using the sun's rays at the Temple of Hera. Despite weather disruptions that forced parts of the ceremony indoors this year, organizers emphasized that the Olympic symbolism and message of peace remain undiminished.
The flame, symbolizing peace and unity, continues its journey through Greece before heading to Italy, where preparations are in full swing for the 2026 Winter Games.
Chinese athletes join Milan 2026 torch relay in Greece
Chinese athletes join Milan 2026 torch relay in Greece
The price of aluminum, a key industrial metal used in automotive manufacturing, construction and packaging, has been climbing as production cuts in the Gulf region, logistical constraints and Iranian attacks on two regional producers over the weekend tightened supply.
On March 31, the benchmark London Metal Exchange (LME) three-month price for aluminum rose to 3,535 U.S. dollars per metric ton, a year-on-year increase of around 40 percent.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Sunday that they launched missile and drone strikes on aluminum plants in Bahrain and the UAE that are linked to the U.S. military and aerospace industries, in retaliation for U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iranian steel factories.
Emirates Global Aluminium issued a statement saying that its Al Taweela site in the Khalifa Economic Zone in Abu Dhabi was severely damaged after Iranian strikes, with some employees injured.
Aluminum Bahrain confirmed in a statement on Sunday that some of its facilities were struck by Iranian attacks, resulting in injuries to two employees.
The two aluminum plants have a combined annual output of 3.2 million tons, more than half of the approximately 6 million tons of aluminum produced every year by Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states.
The region is a key source of aluminum supply, accounting for about 9 percent of global production.
Goldman Sachs on Tuesday raised its LME aluminum price forecast from 3,200 U.S. dollars to 3,450 U.S. dollars per ton for the second quarter of 2026 after the attacks on the facilities.
Goldman Sachs also predicted a global primary aluminum market supply deficit of 570,000 tons in 2026, a sharp turnaround from its previous forecast of a 550,000-ton surplus.
Analysts point out that the aluminum market is currently facing multiple shocks, with shipping in the Strait of Hormuz disrupted, aluminum production facilities in the Gulf damaged or even shut down, and production in other parts of the world currently limited.
The impact will also spread to downstream enterprises in the coming months, with higher-cost aluminum alloys, primarily used in the aerospace, automotive, and construction industries, facing the most constrained supply, analysts said.
The Gulf region has long been a significant source of these high-end products, particularly for the European market, and also supplies manufacturers in the United States.
Aluminum prices climb as effects of Middle East tensions spread through global economy
