The Human Rights Torch Relay (HRTR) that was lit in Greece, the sacred place of the Olympics, arrived in the German capital of Berlin on August 18. That afternoon, the European branch of the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG), the German International Society for Human Rights, the Union of Victim Associations of Communist Tyranny (UOKG) and the Library Association to Commemorate the Victims of Communist Tyranny held a greeting ceremony for the arrival of the HRTR at Berlin Olympic Stadium.

German torch carrier, former East German athlete Ines Geipel, who set the world record with her partners for the 4x100m relay, taking over the Human Rights Torch from seven-year-old Chen Fadu, who lost her father because of the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong, and who carried the torch all the way from the HRTR Lighting ceremony in Greece. (Cao Gong/The Epoch Times)

Shortly after the greeting ceremony, German torch carrier and famous former East German athlete Ines Geipel raised the torch high and led the welcoming team as it ran through downtown Berlin and arrived with the torch in front of William Memorial Church in the Breischeidplatz square. That evening, bands coming from Berlin and other European cities held a "Berlin Human Rights Torch Relay Welcoming" ceremony and open-air concert at Breischeidplatz.