BANGKOK - Six Thai conservationists and green activists have been chosen as torchbearers of the Olympic flame, which will arrive in Thailand on April 19.
The six have been devoting themselves to the Kingdom's environmental conservation programs and were picked in keeping with the theme of "Green Olympics", local English newspaper The Nation said on Thursday.
Sumet Tantivejkul, chairman of the Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute; Admiral Kohlak Charoenrook, adviser to the Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Environment; Narisa Chakrabongse, chairperson of The Green World Foundation; Pornwut Sarasin, vice-chairman of The Coca-Cola Foundation, Thailand; Thon Thamrongnawasawat, marine biologist and faculty of marine science at the Kasetsart University and actress Ammara Siripong will carry the Olympics torch with 80 other runners in Thailand.
The torch run for the Beijing Games will be the biggest in Olympic history, with around 22,000 runners running the 85,128-mile route around the world in 130 days.
The flame, which will be lit in Olympia, Greece, on March 25, will make its way through Greece until March 30 and will be handed to the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee on March 31.
Thailand will receive the torch from Mumbai, India, on April 17. Each Thai participant will run for 250 meters.
The run will pass through Odian Circle, Yaowarach (Chinatown), Chareonkrung Road, Rachadamn-eon Road, the Royal Grand Palace, the Royal Plaza and conclude at the Odian Circle. Thailand will then pass the flame to Malaysia. The flame is due to reach China on August 8.
