A total of 22 rescuers in the May 12 Sichuan earthquake were newly named torchbearers in central China's Henan province, local authorities confirmed Friday.

The list of the 22 newly selected torchbearers was issued before the start of the Beijing Olympic torch relay in Henan.

"The rescuers were newly made torchbearers because of the courageous feat they performed in the earthquake relief," according to a statement issued by the organizing committee of the torch relay in Henan.

Among the torchbearers were soldiers, firefighters and civil servants.

"Friendship, peace and dedication, I think these are the common elements both in the disaster relief and the Olympic Games," said Chen Xinjiang, one of the torchbearers who rescued nine people from the debris with his fellow firefighters.

The 22 torchbearers will participate in the torch relay in Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, Luoyang and Anyang cities in the province.

(Xinhua News Agency July 25, 2008)