By Xinhua
Jakarta : Top Indonesian badminton players Susy Susanti, Alan Budikusuma and Taufik Hidayat, along with 77 other runners, will carry the 2008 Olympic Games Torch in the parade here April 22.
The parade is part of the torch’s trip around the world prior to the opening of the Olympic Games in Beijing Aug. 8.
A total of 80 runners would help carry the torch, including athletes, celebrities and sports officials, the Jakarta Post daily Sunday quoted Indonesia relay organiser Sumohadi Marsis as saying.
The National Sports Council (KONI) chose 57 runners from among the present and former athletes, while the three principal Olympic sponsors would pick 18 and the Games organising committee five others, he said.
Sumohadi said the first runner would be former soccer player, 76-year-old Tan Liong Houe, who competed at the 1956 Games.
Among officials to carry the torch are Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Lan Lijun, State Minister for Youth and Sports Affairs Adhyaksa Dault and KONI Chairwoman Rita Subowo.
Sumohadi said Taufik would be the ones to light the cauldron, to be brought in by the Olympics organising committee, with the torch. He was named last to carry the torch for winning a gold medal in the 2004 Athens Games.
“The Olympics organising committee has come to Jakarta to check out the route and it has been approved. The route is between eight-nine kilometres. Each torch bearer will run for 100 meters before handing it over to the next runner,” Sumohadi said.
The 2008 torch relay is planned to take place from Mar 25 to Aug 8, passing through 24 cities in 22 countries and regions.