Beijing Olympic Torch Visits Malaysia On April 21

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 4 (Bernama) -- After four decades, Kuala Lumpur is again selected as one of 25 cities for the Olympic Games torch relay.

About 80 people will be involved in the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay here scheduled for April 21 next year.

Malaysia last held the Olympic torch relay in 1964 for the Tokyo Olympic Games, where it was also the first time the prestigious sporting event was brought to the Asian region.

"It is an honour for Malaysia to be selected as one of the 25 cities in the world to host the torch relay. It will show to the world, Malaysia's well-known icons," said Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) secretary-general Datuk Sieh Kok Chi.

"The participants will not necessarily be ex-sportsmen or sports officials but from all walks of life, including dignitaries, celebrities and environmentalists, as the 2008 Beijing Olympics is known as the Green Olympics by the Beijing Olympic Games Organising Committee (BOGOC).

"The torch relay will cover a distance of 20km, starting from the Merdeka Square and passing by the Merdeka Stadium before ending at KLCC. Each torch bearer will run for about 20 minutes for a distance of 250 metres.

"The event is prestigious and will give good promotion for Malaysia as it will be telecast live worldwide," said Sieh, adding that OCM and three Olympic Games sponsors would select the torch bearers.

In conjunction with the global relay, Coca-Cola Malaysia and Malaysian Nature Society today launched a search for local citizens who are making a difference in society through environmental stewardship.

"The search will focus on Malaysians who play an active role in environmental issues, primarily in the areas of water conservation, recycling and energy and climate protection," said Coca-Cola Malaysia's Public Affairs and Communications director Mohamed Kadri Taib.

Beginning today, the public can nominate any individual whom they feel has contributed and made a difference in protecting the environment in the country, by e-mailing to kadritaib@apac.ko.com or mailing to Coca-Cola Malaysia, Public Affairs & Communications, No. 1, Jalan Bukit Belimbing 26/38, Persiaran Kuala Selangor, 40400 Shah Alam.

Nominations should be submitted by Oct 29 and should include information on the nominee's name, profile, age, gender, address and contact number.

Coca-Cola is a global partner of the Beijing 2008 Torch Relay, a worldwide partner of the International Olympic Committee and a sponsor of the Beijing Olympic Games.

The worldwide Beijing Olympic Torch Relay will be the largest torch relay in the history of the Olympic Games. Under the theme of "Journey of Harmony" and the slogan, "Light the Passion, Share the Dream", the torch relay will travel to all five continents, covering a distance of 137,000km over 130 days.

The Olympic Flame will be lit on March 25 in Olympia, Greece, according to tradition, and will travel across Greece, ending at the Panathinaikos Stadium, the site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.

The Beijing Olympic Torch Relay will commence upon arrival of the Olympic Flame in Beijing on March 31.

-- BERNAMA