The Hindu : Sport : Anju, Leander unveil Olympic torch

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Thursday, Dec 20, 2007
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Anju, Leander unveil Olympic torch

Special Correspondent

— Photo: Paul Noronha

THE ‘CLOUD OF PROMISE’: Leander Paes and Anju Bobby George at the torch unveiling.

MUMBAI: Anju George and Leander Paes, two of India’s outstanding Olympians, unveiled the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch, designed by Lenovo, at a ceremony on Tuesday.

Lenovo’s design, named ‘Cloud of Promise’ was by the Beijing Organising Committee for the Games (BOCOG) selected from over 300 entries.

The deep red and bright silver coloured torch, inspired by the shape of a traditional Chinese scroll and designed to evoke the feeling of one hand holding another, will be carried from city to city around the world by torch-bearers in the Olympic torch relay and will arrive at Beijing on August 8, to mark the start of 2008 Olympics.

Anju and Paes referred to the Lenovo design team’s skill in merging Chinese culture and Olympic spirit, in the torch design.

Mumbai is the twelfth city on the torch relay route, starting from Olympia, Greece, on March 25, and reaching India’s commercial capital on April 17.

Lenovo’s Vice-President, Marketing, Rahul Agarwal, said: “It is a matter of honour for Lenovo to have designed the Olympic torch and an equally big honour to have Anju George and Leander Paes unveil the torch in India. We sincerely hope the Cloud of Promise brings luck and accolades to the Indian Olympic contingent.”

Long jumper Anju, accompanied by husband Bobby George, later answered queries about form and preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games.

“She remained low-key last year. Now we are looking at the Asian Indoors in February (Doha, Qatar) and the World Indoors in March (Valencia, Spain) to assess form, followed by the outdoor meets,” said Bobby George.

Anju said she was looking forward to the competitions ahead. “I am fit and am moving well. Last time, at the 2004 Athens Olympics, I finished sixth. I am confident of bettering that performance.”

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