Shuttlers Susy Susanti, Alan Budikusuma and Taufik Hidayat, along with 77 other runners will carry the 2008 Olympic Games torch in a parade on April 22 along Jakarta's major thoroughfares.

 

The parade is part of the torch's trip around the world prior to the opening of the Olympics in Beijing on Aug. 8.

 

A total of 80 runners would help carry the torch, including athletes, celebrities and sports officials, the Jakarta Post daily on Sunday quoted Indonesia relay organizer Sumohadi Marsis as saying.

 

The National Sports Council (KONI) was to choose 57 runners from among athletes and former athletes, while the three principal Olympic sponsors would pick 18 and the Olympics organizing committee five other, he said.

 

Sumohadi said the first runner would be former soccer player Tan Liong Houe, who competed at the 1956 Games. "Tan is 76 years old and looking forward to participating."

 

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 one to light the cauldron, to be brought in by the Olympics organizing committee, with the torch. He was named last to carry the torch for winning a gold medal in the 2004 Athens Olympics.

 

"The Olympics organizing committee has come to Jakarta to check out the route and it has been approved. The route is between 8 and 9 kilometers. 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 March 25 to Aug. 8, passing through 24 cities in 22 countries and regions.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 30, 2007)