Thousands cheered and some staged dances with traditional daggers along the Olympic torch's path through the steep and ancient streets of Oman's capital Monday. Under tight security, about 80 torchbearers ferried the flame down into the heart of hilly Muscat, passing under historic stone arches and alongside the Sultan's Palace and old souk, before winding along the edge of the Gulf against the backdrop of spectacular mountains. The rare carnival-like atmosphere was a welcome respite for Olympic organizers seeking to avoid protests that tainted torch stops in Paris, London and San Francisco. The torch arrived from Tanzania and was received at Oman International Airport by Omani Sports minister Ali Bin Masoud Al-Sunaidy early Monday. But officials waited for cooler evening weather before the festivities kicked off with the torch being lit by Muscat governor Sayyed Al Mutassim Bin Hamoud Al-Busaidy, and handed over to Sayyed Shihab Bin Tariq Al-Said, an adviser to Sultan Qaboos Bin Said. By early evening, thousands of Omanis and mostly Asian expatriates lined streets to watch athletes and other Omani celebrities carry the torch along Muscat's scenic waterfront. Torchbearers paused occasionally along the 20km relay route for performances by men in traditional Arab white robes, some with daggers tucked in their belts, dancing to the beat of drums. Schoolchildren wearing white caps and T-shirts with the words “Beijing 2008” waved small red Chinese and Omani flags. “I've never seen anything like it,” said Naser Mustafa, an Omani who brought his 8-year-old son to watch the festivities. “I never expected so many people to come out, this is very rare in Oman.” Dozens of policemen were deployed along the torch route, where streets were closed off and parking was banned. An army helicopter hovered overhead. The festivities culminated with an elaborate show of fireworks and musical performances held at Muscat's Qurum National Park. The torch next goes to Islamabad, Pakistan, where officials said that they had changed the route of the relay.
