Indonesian athletes and celebrities are competing for the bearers of the 2008 Beijing Olympic torch when it arrives in Jakarta on April 22 next year.

 

The candidates include famous bodybuilder Ade Rai, swimmer Richard Sam Bera, shuttler Candra Wijaya, actress and model Luna Maya, singer Marcell, presenter Tamara Geraldine, actress Dina Olivia and racer Rifat Sungkar.

 

TV presenter Dik Doank was the first to be appointed to bear the torch, English daily The Jakarta Post reported Wednesday.

 

Two other candidates will be selected from among journalists who write articles on the Olympics during September and employees of PT Samsung Electronics Indonesia. The South Korean company is one of the official sponsors of the Games.

 

"It would be better to compete at the Olympics but if I can't qualify, being a torch bearer would be an honor for me," Candra said.

 

The 2000 Sydney Olympics men's doubles gold medalist is unlikely to compete in Beijing because his partner has represented the United States for the past three years.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 26, 2007)