The Olympic torch relay will tour China's northeastern Liaoning Province from July 17-19, said a provincial government official on Tuesday in Shenyang, the capital of the province.

The sacred flame will tour three cities of Shenyang, Anshan and Dalian, in the province with 624 torchbearers involved.

As one of the sports powerhouses in China, Liaoning has contributed many Olympic and world champions for China. Eleven summer Olympic champion, one winter Olympic champion and a Paralympic champion will carry the torch during the relay.

(Xinhua News Agency July 16, 2008)