The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) announced on Saturday (June 22) the torchbearer selection program for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Beginning today, a total of 21,880 torchbearers will be selected from around the world by various organizations and entities. There are two routes for such a worldwide selection process. The first one is done through recommendations by various organizations and institutions. And the second is an open process, in which public recommendations are accepted. Additionally, 5,000 escort runners will be selected on the Chinese mainland exclusively for this portion of the relay.

The selection program is the core of the Olympic torch relay preparations. During the flame's journey from Olympia in Greece to the host city, the torchbearers play the role of conveyors of the Olympic ideals. In passing the Olympic flame, they will spread the Olympic Spirit, transmit a message of friendship and peace, and arouse the public's passion for the Olympics.

According to the selection program, there will be a total of 21,880 torchbearers. Among these, 19,400 will be assigned to the relay on the Chinese mainland, and 2,480 to the relay in overseas cities and Taipei, Hong Kong, and Macao.

Under the theme of "Journey of Harmony" and slogan "Light the Passion, Share the Dream", the torchbearer selection program aims to involve the public participation in a most broad and extensive way. It will recruit a group of torchbearers who are most deserving and worth of carrying the Olympic Flame within their communities. The torchbearer selection process will contribute to the promotion of the Olympic Spirit and create a warm and joyful atmosphere for the public in the lead up to the Beijing Olympic Games.

The selection criteria for the Olympic torchbearers have been formulated on the basis of the principles set forth by the IOC and past Games practices. For the relay on the mainland of China, torchbearers should meet the following requirements:

1) Be patriotic and dedicated to the Olympic Movement;

2) Practice the Beijing Olympic Games concepts in daily life and have contributed to the building of a harmonious society;

3) Be distinguished for remarkable feats in his/her profession or community, or have a personal story that can inspire or motivate others;

4) Be willing and dedicated to community services;

5) Be distinguished for contributions to the Olympic Movement or for extraordinary performance at past Olympic Games.

For the relay in overseas cities and Taipei, Hong Kong, and Macao, the torchbearers should meet the following requirements:

1) Uphold the Olympic Spirit and be dedicated to the Olympic Movement;

2) Support the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games;

3) Be distinguished for remarkable feats in his/her profession or community or have a personal story that can inspire or motivate others;

4) Be willing and dedicated to community services;

5) Be distinguished for contributions to the Olympic Movement or for extraordinary performance at past Olympic Games.

Based on IOC regulations, Olympic convention, and the agreement reached by BOCOG, IOC, the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC), and Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay Presenting Partners, the selection entities will include: provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities; the COC (including Mount Qomolangma team); Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay Presenting Partners; the Olympic Family (including IOC, NOCs, and IFs); overseas cities and Taipei, Hong Kong and Macau; and BOCOG.

The aforementioned entities will select the torchbearers through the internal nomination and/or the open process. Selection by internal nomination means that the selection entities nominate the candidate torchbearers within their administrative areas or organizational systems and carry out the review and appraisal process. For the open registration process, the selection entities will make the criteria, the total number, selection rules, registration procedure, as well as registration forms available to the public. The selection entities may employ one or both selection methods at their discretion.

The Beijing Olympic Games Escort Runner Program has been launched with the objective of using the Olympic torch relay to promote Olympic education. It will encourage the Chinese youth to understand, support and participate in the Olympics, and present the world a good image of China's younger generation. The mission of the escort runners is to assist the torchbearers - especially those with a disability - to pass on the holy flame, and to help the torchbearers fulfill their task if the need arises.

The selection of the escort runners will be based on a proportion of two escort runners per eight torchbearers for a total of 5,000 escort runners. They must meet all the same criteria as the torchbearers, and additionally, be 17 years of age or older; be able to run three kilometers in 20 minutes without any difficulty; be able to keep pace with the torchbearers; and be able to escort torchbearers over several legs. They will be selected by the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities and the Beijing 2008 Torch Relay Presenting Partners on the basis of the criteria, rules and guidelines set by BOCOG.

The number of torchbearers and their allocations are as follows:

I. 19,400 for the relay on the Chinese mainland

1) 11,534 for the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities of China, or 59.45% of the total;

2) 1,880 for the Chinese Olympic Committee (including Mount Qomolangma team), or 9.69% of the total;

3) 5,586 for the sponsors (all levels including the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay Presenting Partners), or 28.79% of the total;

4) 200 for the Olympic Family (including IOC, NOCs and IFs), or 1.03% of the total;

5) 200 for BOCOG;

II. 2,480 for the relay in overseas cities and Taipei, Hong Kong and Macao. Among them 1,936 for NOCs/host city governments, or 78.06% of the total; 414 for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay Presenting Partners, or 16.7% of the total; and 130 for BOCOG, or 5.24% of the total.

The number of escort runners and their allocations are as follows:

189 for each of the following provinces: Henan, Shandong, Guangdong and Sichuan; 85 each for Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing and the Tibet Autonomous Region; 137 for each of the other provinces and autonomous regions; 140 for Beijing and 750 for the Presenting Partners.

Editor: Wing