A SOUTHAMPTON businesswoman has told why she defied the protests to take part in the controversial Olympic torch relay.

Chinese-born Joanne Zeng said she did it so that people should remember what the historic flame stands for.

As pro-Tibet campaigners continued their protests in San Francisco yesterday following demonstrations in London and Paris, Mrs Zeng said demonstrators should not hijack the celebration of the world's greatest sporting event.

Mrs Zeng, who runs the Southampton Bead Shop in Burgess Road, was one of 80 people who took part in the London relay including five times Olympic gold medallist Sir Steve Redgrave and former Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq who one protestor tried to snatch the torch from.

Mrs Zeng was chosen to run the 53rd leg of the relay after being nominated by a Chinese newspaper that invited readers to write their reasons for wanting to take part.

With a total of 80 Olympic torch bearers participating, it was up to Joanne, who has lived in England for the past 18 years, to safely take the Olympic torch across 250 metres from London's City Hall.

She said: "It was a huge honour to take part in such a big event. I was really calm when I took hold of the Olympic torch.

"I held it really high and had a smile on my face. This is such a big event for sport and I see the Olympic torch as a symbol of peace, friendship and uniting people from different nations."

Mrs Zeng, who was watched by her proud husband Johnny and ten-year-old son Darren, would not be drawn about the protests against China's human rights record.

However she said that she didn't mind people demonstrating but felt it was a shame that their actions had hijacked the Olympic torch relay.

"The Olympic torch relay is not about politics but about sport and all of the Olympic ideals of peace, friendship and bringing nations together."

She said that while carrying the Olympic torch she could hear both pro- China supporters and pro- Tibet protestors but never felt personally threatened thanks to the high levels of security.

There were a total of 37 arrests in London after clashes between pro- Tibet protestors and police.

Chinese officials have organised the most ambitious Olympic torch relay ever visiting 19 countries over a 85,000 mile journey.

The torch is now heading to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and 12 more countries before arriving in China in early May. Officials are even considering taking