Shanghai Daily news

A total of 140 candidates attended final interviews yesterday in Shanghai to compete for 70 places as torch bearers in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay in the city.

Also yesterday, 231 students and teachers competed for 85 education places in the torch relay through Shanghai.

Results will be announced this week, and selected candidates will take part in the torch relay in Shanghai on May 20 and 21 next year.

By August 20, 2,084 applicants had signed up to apply to be a torch bearer, ranging from students to retirees, and local residents to foreigners.

"Many of my classmates signed up for the torch relay," said one candidate, Grade Two student Liu Yelun. "If I am selected, I will try my best to finish the task and transfer the torch to the next bearer," Liu said during the interview. His principle is: "Try my best, never say die."

Li Weiting, vice director of Shanghai Sports Bureau, said the criteria to choose torch bearers is to see whether the candidates have the Olympic spirit.

According to the committee, one bride who married yesterday also came in for the interview.

"All the candidates signed up spontaneously," said Wang Lanjie, vice president of Shanghai Trade Union. "Their participation already supports the 2008 Olympics, no matter whether they are selected or not."

Torch bearers must be physically fit, so all participants spent an average 15 minutes to finish a three-kilometer run in yesterday's drizzle. The best time was 10 minutes 15 seconds.

Meanwhile, BHP Billiton, the world's largest mining company, kicked off a nationwide Olympics community event series in Shanghai over the weekend.

More than 1,200 children in Baoshan District took part in a range of games like football, athletics and hockey. The Shanghai events were co-sponsored by Baosteel Group, one of BHP's key customers.

The event was the first of up to 10 events that BHP plans to hold across China in the run-up to next year's Games.

"We hope to share our success with local communities and bring the upcoming Olympics closer to our Chinese customers, employees and their families," said Clinton Dines, president of BHP Billiton China.