The plane that will bring the Olympic torch to China left Beijing for Athens on Saturday.

The Airbus A330 passenger jet is painted red and yellow and sports the logos of the torch relay "Light the Passion, Share the Dream," and "Journey of Harmony."

Air China spokeswoman Zhang Chunzhi says the Olympic torch plane was specially designed.

"As requested, the aircraft has a specially designed stand to hold the flame while it is in transit. We guarantee the flame will keep burning throughout its whole journey."

Following a weeklong relay in Greece, the Beijing Olympic flame will reach Panathenaikon Stadium in Athens tomorrow. The Hellenic Olympic Committee, or HOC, will hand the torch over to the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the Twenty-Ninth Olympiad, more commonly referred to as BOCOG.

Executive vice president of the BOCOG Wang Wei and other committee members arrived in Athens on Friday and are now preparing for the torch hand-over ceremony.

Wang Wei says his group and HOC members are putting the finishing touches on the stadium where the ceremoney will take place.

"We are now mainly working on the decorations and minor preparations for the stadium. There are still some details to be set down. We've received good support from all related departments in Greece. "

The Olympic flame will arrive in Beijing on March 31 and start its global relay on April 1st.