Samsung, a 2008 Olympic torch relay worldwide partner, recently launched an effort to find 100 mobile phone users who could participate in an Olympic quiz and become torchbearers.

 

The program is a part of Samsung's efforts to select torchbearers globally for the 2008 Games. As one of the top partners of the Olympics, the South Korean company will have an opportunity to select 1,500 torchbearers.

 

Compared to previous selection methods that considered the applicants' personal life experiences, this selection process requires nothing more than a mobile phone.

 

From September 1 to October 7, mobile phone users in the Chinese mainland are encouraged to register in an Olympic quiz by sending text message to a wireless platform set up by Samsung.

 

The top 100 scorers in the quiz will be chosen as the torchbearer candidates before BOCOG gives its final approval.

 

It is the first time that Samsung, a sponsor of the 2004 Athens and 2006 Turino torch relays, will use such methods to look for torchbearers.

 

"I hope we can use our experience in organizing Olympic torch relays to help the Games in Beijing become the most memorable and successful in Olympic history," said Park Keun-hee, president of Samsung China.

 

Like other sponsors, Samsung also appointed several celebrities as torchbearers for the 2008 Games. The first batch includes Liu Xuan, 2000 Sydney Olympics gymnastics champion, Singapore's pop singer Lam JJ, Chinese film director Lu Chuan, and Zhao Xiaojun, designer for the National Aquatics Center "Water Cube."

 

(China Daily August 31, 2007)