40 torchbearers and 10 substitutes for the Guangzhou leg of the Doha 2006 Asian Games Torch Relay were chosen through random selection by computer. The Chinese Olympic Committee and related agencies of Guangzhou selected a further 40 torchbearers, including famous people such as academician Zhong Nanshan who has made significant contribution to the prevention of SARS and bird flu.

The selection of torchbearers began on June 13, with the opening of registration to applicants; then, on June 27, 150 persons were selected from 3,780 applicants by random selection, with 117 passing a required medical fitness examination. Finally, on the morning of July 6, 40 torchbearers and 10 substitutes from the 117 candidates were selected by the Organizing Committee, using computers in a triple random selection process. Most of the torchbearers were born in the 1980's, with the youngest 15 years old and the oldest 55; 60 percent of the torchbearers are students and nearly half are female.

On October 25, the 80 runners, with a 1.5kg torch in hand, will each run a 400m section of the route, which will zigzag through 9 places: Yuexiu Mountain, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall, the People's Park, Beijing Road, Haiyin Park, the north gate of Sun Yat-Sen University, Ersha Island, Zhujiang New Town, and the Tianhe Sports Center; with the torch crossing the Pearl River on a dragon boat. Details of the exact route will be finalized in September.

There will be a variety of performances along the route and a spectacular party will be held at the Sports Center on the evening of the run.

Editor: Yan