Speculation mounts on who will light flame

Cathy Freeman will always be remembered at the 2000 Sydney Games as the last torchbearer who rose from a flaming ring of water to light the Olympic flame.

She will equally be remembered for the gold medal she won for the 400 m race.

Who will be the torchbearer to light the flame at the Beijing Games is the focus of much speculation.

China has a large number of sports stars to choose from ever since it won its first Olympic gold medal at the 1984 Los Angles Games.

In June, the organizers of the Games launched a selection campaign listing 21,880 eligible people.

According to a survey on the website sohu.com, the Beijing 2008 Internet Content Services sponsor, China's NBA super star Yao Ming and Olympic champion hurdler Liu Xiang are far ahead of the other candidates.

Up to yesterday afternoon, Yao was leading with 30,046 votes, followed by Liu's 29,708.

Although both of them have been torchbearers for other sporting events, being the last torchbearer for the Beijing Games is their dream.

"I should say thank you to all the netizens that support me," the Houston Rockets center said on Tuesday. "I will cherish the opportunity of being the last torchbearer very much if I am selected."

He even joked he hoped the Olympic flame's cauldron would be so high, only he would be able to reach it.

"However, the most important thing is to participate in the Olympics, and not whether I am the last torchbearer," Yao said.

The 26-year-old hopes the country's basketball team will do better at next year's Games. The team's best result at previous Games has been 8th.

The recently married Yao is preparing hard for the Games and considers it more important than plans for having a baby.

"I have no plans at present. I will be concentrating on preparing for the NBA season and next year's Olympics," Yao said.

"Competing in the Olympics on our home soil is an opportunity I will really cherish."

The achievements of Liu as a top hurdler should also gain him more support.

At the Athens Games, Liu took gold in the men's 110m hurdles. He holds the world record of 12.88 seconds.

"To be the last torchbearer is the dream of all athletes, but it is not my only dream for the Olympics," Liu said. "I will also strive for a good result in the competition."

The Internet vote also includes multiple world champion and Olympic ping-pong gold medalist Deng Yaping and China's first shooting Olympic gold medalist Xu Haifeng, who rank third and forth.

The Beijing organizing committee said the choice will not be revealed until the last minute. We still have a year to wait.

(China Daily 08/09/2007 page6)