Canberra Route
The Canberra leg of the Torch Relay showcased the national capital, passing many national icons, including the Australian War Memorial and Parliament House.
Spectators lined the streets to be a part of the Olympic experience, cheer on the Torchbearers and enjoy the celebrations featuring Chinese cultural performances and Australian entertainers.
Canberra's relay route [
PDF 665 KB]
Global Route
The global journey of the torch was the most ambitious ever planned, measuring an impressive 137,000 kilometres.
The global route was inspired by the ancient Chinese trade route, The Silk Road, which opened up cultural and trade transactions between China and the west. This route, which was established as early as 114 BC, had a major influence on Chinese and western history.
Canberra was selected for inclusion in the torch relay route in recognition of its sister city relationship with Beijing.