Two famous athletes of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) were set to start and end the torch relay in Pyongyang, the Organizing Committee for the Olympic Torch Relay in Pyongyang announced on Sunday.

Pak Do Ik, former national football team player, who scored a decisive goal in a 1966 world cup, sending the DPRK team into the 1/4 finals, will be the first torch bearer.

The 72-year-old football player told Xinhua that he was surprised and overjoyed that he was chosen as the first torch bearer at his age.

Chong Song Ok, dubbed the "Marathon Queen" by the DPRK media for her champion at the seventh World Track and Field Championship in August 1999, will be the last bearer.

Chong told Xinhua that she was very proud to be a torch bearer and wished the Beijing Olympic Games every good luck.

The torch relay in Pyongyang, the 18th leg of the Olympic Flame's global tour, will kick off on April 28.

(Xinhua News Agency April 27, 2008)