Torchbearer Recruitment Drive

Beijing has launched a massive recruitment drive to hire over 21,000 Olympic torchbearers for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The organising committee (BOCOG) plans to have 21,880 torch bearers, both home and abroad, for the 137,000km torch relay route.

Jiang Xiaoyu, executive vice president of BOCOG, said:

"There are two ways of becoming a torch bearer.

The first one is through recommendations by various organisations and institutions. Another way is an open process in which public recommendations are accepted.

In a few days, the public will know how to relay as respective organisations and institutions will announce their own application process. But none of them are allowed to add additional requirements to the existing ones."

BOCOG has set no limits on gender, career, nationality or health. Seemingly non Chinese nationals can account for up to 5% of the torch bearers on the Chinese mainland, which will have 19,400 in total.

The deadline for submitting applications is October 31st, BOCOG will make the final confirmation before December 30th.

The Beijing Olympics flame will be lit in March 2008, in Greece before starting its 130 day journey.