The Hindu : New Delhi News : Delhi to host Olympic Flame today

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 10, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Delhi to host Olympic Flame today

By Our Staff Reporter

Securitymen on Rajpath. Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

NEW DELHI, JUNE 9. Delhi is all set to receive the historic Olympic Flame as it arrives from Beijing by a special flight on Thursday morning for the Athens 2004 Olympic Torch Relay which is for the first time being organised as a global event covering all the five continents as a symbol of unity throughout the world.

To mark the event, a number of cultural events and a royal procession of elephants, camels and guards in traditional gear have been planned. The Flame will arrive here from Beijing by a special flight on Thursday morning and will be taken to Qutub Minar, from where the Olympic Torch Relay will begin at 2 p.m. with the Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, handing over the flame to the President of the Indian Olympic Association, Suresh Kalmadi.

Thereafter a total of 105 torchbearers, mostly celebrities from different fields, will carry the torch across a 33-km route covering some of the world-renowned historic monuments and world heritage sites of the city. Carrying the Torch with the spirit of "Pass the Flame, Unite the World" will be eminent personalities such as musicians Amaan Ali Bangash, Ayaan Ali Bangash and Palash Sen, actors Aamir Khan, Rahul Bose, Aishwarya Rai, Vivek Oberoi and Rani Mukerji, former Captain of the Indian cricket team, Kapil Dev, tennis player Mahesh Bhupati, cricketers Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Anil Kumble and Irfan Pathan and heart surgeon Naresh Trehan.

Besides, two very special persons -- wheelchair user Aslam Amin, who despite being a double amputee excelled in academics, and partially sighted athlete, Ravinder Singh, who came fourth in 800 m at the World Championship Games for the Blind in Canada in 2003 -- will be representing India in the Torch Relay.

As the event is likely to witness participation of a large number of people along the route the traffic police have advised motorists to avoid the route of the relay which would take around five and a half hours to reach the National Stadium.

The Olympic Torch Relay will pass through Aurobindo Marg, Outer Ring Road, August Kranti Marg in front of Asian Games Village, and then cross Ring Road to reach Bhisham Pitamah Marg, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Lodhi Road, Humayun's Tomb, Mathura Road, Oberoi flyover, Purana Quila, Bhairon Road, Ring Road, Shanti Van and New Darya Ganj Road.

Thereafter the Flame will enter the majestic Red Fort and take Lahori Gate, Moat Road, Subhas Marg, Delhi Gate, Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, School Lane Flyover, Tolstoy Marg, Janpath, Rajendra Prasad Road, Vijay Chowk, Rajpath and C Hexagon before culminating at the National Stadium, where the 105th torchbearer, rifle shooter Anjali Bhagwat, will have the honour of lighting the Olympic Flame.

Incidentally, to coincide with the Torch Relay -- that will visit 34 cities worldwide in 35 days before returning to Athens on July 9 -- covering the world heritage sites of the city, Delhi Tourism has organised cultural events along the route. A "taal vadyam" by a team of musicians from South India will take place at Qutab Minar; an instrumental performance by Langas and Magniyar has been organised at Humayun's Tomb; and a musical performance of shehnai, naqara and tasha will greet the Torch at Red Fort.

From Rajpath, a royal procession of caparisoned elephants, camels and "darbans" wearing ceremonial costumes and carrying large colourful umbrellas will escort the Torch up to the National Stadium, where a grand cultural programme will provide the finale to the Torch Relay. Among the performers here will be Shanker Mahadevan, Shiamak Davar and Kavita Krishnamoorty, who will keep the momentum going with a sterling musical performance.

Following a spectacular laser show and aerial fireworks, at about 8 p.m. the Torch will be taken to Marriott Hotel at Saket where it will be placed at a ceremonial table on the grand staircase for the public. After 30 minutes the torch will be taken away by the committee for "sleep".

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