Seventy torch bearers are set to carry the Beijing Olympic flame in New Delhi on Thursday for the 11th leg of its global journey.

The 70 torch bearers will cover a distance of just 2.5 kilometers from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate.

The torch bearers include sportspersons, Bollywood stars and politicians, according to Suresh Kalmadi, the president of Indian Olympic Committee.

The country's top current and former athletes, including sprint stars Anju Bobby George, PT Usha, ace tennis star Leander Paes, shooters Manavjit Singh and Abhinav Bindra, boxer Akhil Kumar and hockey player Dhanraj Pillay, will be part of the run.

Actors Saif Ali Khan, Amir Khan, Sagarika Ghatge of "Chak De India" fame and Sarod player Ayan Ali Khan will also be seen in action.

Sachin Tendulkar, who was supposed to carry the flames, has pulled out at the last minute.

"He is not well and he has also an Indian Premier League captain's meeting to attend. But he has shown his solidarity for the Olympic movement," Kalmadi said on Wednesday.

Out of 70 torch bearers, 47 have been chosen by India and five by the BOCOG, the Beijing Organizing Committee of Olympic Games, while Olympic presenting partners have selected 19 runners.

Kalmadi expects for a great relay in New Delhi. "The entire world is looking to India and the expectation is that the torch relay will be one of the greatest shows here," said Kalmadi.

"We are hopeful that we will be able to live up to the expectations of the world community."

"We do not want to see a repeat of what happened in Paris and London. It is a sacred torch and its safety is our responsibility, " Kalmadi told a press conference.

"We are not afraid of any movement. They can have the movement anywhere else. We just want the torch relay to be safe. The safety of the torch is our responsibility and we are hopeful that the relay will go on well without any disruption," added he.

(Xinhua News Agency April 17, 2008)