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| Man cycles across the world from China for London 2012 | Man cycles across the world from China for London 2012 |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| By Josephine McDermott BBC News, London | By Josephine McDermott BBC News, London |
| When London's mayor accepted the Olympic flag in 2008 a Chinese farmer who was looking on inside the stadium says he was inspired to travel to the next host city for the Games by the only way he could afford - rickshaw. | When London's mayor accepted the Olympic flag in 2008 a Chinese farmer who was looking on inside the stadium says he was inspired to travel to the next host city for the Games by the only way he could afford - rickshaw. |
| In two years Chen Guanming travelled about 60,000km through 16 countries, overcoming floods, war zones, mountain passes and temperatures of -30C. | |
| His aim, he said, was to "spread the Olympic spirit". | His aim, he said, was to "spread the Olympic spirit". |
| He arrived in London on 9 July. | He arrived in London on 9 July. |
| John Beeston from Norwood Green in west London discovered him at the top of Lower Regent Street looking "completely lost and downhearted". | John Beeston from Norwood Green in west London discovered him at the top of Lower Regent Street looking "completely lost and downhearted". |
| "At first I assumed it was a tourist rickshaw. Then I looked back and thought 'No, this is something different'." | "At first I assumed it was a tourist rickshaw. Then I looked back and thought 'No, this is something different'." |
| Mr Chen has pictures on his three-wheeled rickshaw of him posing in front of international landmarks and a banner saying he is on a journey of 140,000km (86,992 miles) - which includes China. | Mr Chen has pictures on his three-wheeled rickshaw of him posing in front of international landmarks and a banner saying he is on a journey of 140,000km (86,992 miles) - which includes China. |
| Mr Beeston, who runs an insurance brokers and travels to China on business, was able to chat to Mr Chen who is unable to speak English. | Mr Beeston, who runs an insurance brokers and travels to China on business, was able to chat to Mr Chen who is unable to speak English. |
| "I spoke with my limited Mandarin, asking if he was Chinese and he burst into life." | "I spoke with my limited Mandarin, asking if he was Chinese and he burst into life." |
| He took him to Soho's Chinatown where Mr Chen told his story and has since been showered with admiration and offers of accommodation. | He took him to Soho's Chinatown where Mr Chen told his story and has since been showered with admiration and offers of accommodation. |
| He has even been bought a Jamaican tracksuit top. | He has even been bought a Jamaican tracksuit top. |
| "They couldn't find a Chinese one," Mr Chen said. | "They couldn't find a Chinese one," Mr Chen said. |
| 'London is beautiful' | 'London is beautiful' |
| His story sounds so fantastical that few would give it house room, but the 57-year-old from Jiangsu province in eastern China, has the passport, press cuttings and book full of messages from around the world, to testify to his feat. | His story sounds so fantastical that few would give it house room, but the 57-year-old from Jiangsu province in eastern China, has the passport, press cuttings and book full of messages from around the world, to testify to his feat. |
| "It's like telling people that a Martian has landed in the garden," said Mr Beeston. | "It's like telling people that a Martian has landed in the garden," said Mr Beeston. |
| "But, what he's done isn't dissimilar to what Marco Polo did and the Italians named an airport after him." | "But, what he's done isn't dissimilar to what Marco Polo did and the Italians named an airport after him." |
| In the first countries - Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam - he had to wring his clothes out seven or eight times a day because of the sweat. It was about 38C. | In the first countries - Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam - he had to wring his clothes out seven or eight times a day because of the sweat. It was about 38C. |
| In Thailand, he was caught up in deadly floods. | In Thailand, he was caught up in deadly floods. |
| On trying to leave South East Asia he was refused a visa in Burma. | |
| Unperturbed, he backtracked and cycled to Tibet where he wended his way on his gearless bike up 7,000m high mountains. | Unperturbed, he backtracked and cycled to Tibet where he wended his way on his gearless bike up 7,000m high mountains. |
| Having crossed Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran he ended up in Turkey where it was -30C and he says he spent four days snowed in. | Having crossed Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran he ended up in Turkey where it was -30C and he says he spent four days snowed in. |
| He says he supported himself couriering items along the way for people and through people's donations. | He says he supported himself couriering items along the way for people and through people's donations. |
| So was the journey worth it? | So was the journey worth it? |
| "London is especially beautiful," he says. | "London is especially beautiful," he says. |
| "People are very friendly. They always show warmth towards me. | "People are very friendly. They always show warmth towards me. |
| "When I go back to China I want to tell them how civilised the English are." | "When I go back to China I want to tell them how civilised the English are." |
| Opening ceremony ambition | Opening ceremony ambition |
| He wants to carry on spreading his message of peace and environmental protection, he says. | He wants to carry on spreading his message of peace and environmental protection, he says. |
| "I'm a big fan of Olympic Games," he says with typical understatement. | "I'm a big fan of Olympic Games," he says with typical understatement. |
| "I wanted to come here because I wanted the whole world to support the Olympics and be part of it." | "I wanted to come here because I wanted the whole world to support the Olympics and be part of it." |
| Ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games he led a personal crusade against littering, encouraging people to respect their environment. | Ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games he led a personal crusade against littering, encouraging people to respect their environment. |
| To achieve this, he cycled to Beijing from his village, Erchen, in 2001 when China's bid was successful. | |
| He says he went through 1,764 cities, covering more than 90,000km. | He says he went through 1,764 cities, covering more than 90,000km. |
| For three months he collected litter around Beijing and the Olympic Park. | For three months he collected litter around Beijing and the Olympic Park. |
| He litter picked everything from cigarette butts to plastic bottles and was rewarded for his voluntary work by the authorities with a seat at the closing ceremony. | He litter picked everything from cigarette butts to plastic bottles and was rewarded for his voluntary work by the authorities with a seat at the closing ceremony. |
| Now, he wants to be in the opening ceremony to round off his Olympic journey. | Now, he wants to be in the opening ceremony to round off his Olympic journey. |
| Asking Mr Chen if he thinks it will be "difficult" to take part in the ceremony on Friday seems crass given the scale of his achievement in coming this far. | Asking Mr Chen if he thinks it will be "difficult" to take part in the ceremony on Friday seems crass given the scale of his achievement in coming this far. |
| And with his indomitable spirit, who's to say he won't achieve it? | And with his indomitable spirit, who's to say he won't achieve it? |