Pamplona runners face the bulls

Up to 1 million people are in Pamplona for the festival

PAMPLONA, Spain -- Up to one million are in the Spanish city of Pamplona for the start of the world-famous bull-running festival.

The "chupinazo" firework display heralded the start of the annual nine-day event on Saturday -- on the eve of the first of the early morning "bull runs."

To the cries of "Viva San Fermin!," town councilor Roberto Jimenez ignited the first "chupinazo" firecracker in the city's main square to officially start the San Fermin festival.

Amid deafening shouts of "Long live San Fermin," the crowd tossed inflatable balls into the air.

After 20 hours of non-stop partying, a handful of the bravest, or most reckless, men will risk their lives in a three-minute adrenaline-fuelled dash from six fighting bulls.

In the past injuries have been numerous as the large crowds jostle to dodge the bulls' sharp horns.

Over the last century, 13 runners have been gored fatally or trampled to death.

The running of the bulls dates back to 1591 when its purpose was to move the bulls into the arena.

But in the 17th century a handful of daredevils jumped in front of the beasts for the first time -- and ran for their lives.

"For me, Pamplona is the last stop on the romantic road, " Ray Mouton, a former lawyer from New Orleans, who has been attending the festival since 1970, told the Associated Press.

The partying will continue until July 14

"San Fermin is all about generosity. The fiesta is all about the heart."

"I came here to test my bravery," said first-timer Terry Bunsen, a 31-year-old publicist from London.

"This is better than I expected. It's mad, totally mad. I now realize that it's more about the party than the bull-run."

On Sunday morning many of the revelers will try their luck in the first of the three-minute dashes to the bullring pursued by six prime fighting bulls.

The run is a 825-meter (902-yard) stampede from the corral where the bulls are kept to the outdoor bullfighting arena where they will be invariably killed by matadors later in the day.

The spectacle is repeated each day till July 14 and is broadcast live on Spanish television.