Indiantelevision.com Team

(16 October 2007 6:30 pm)

MUMBAI: Lenovo today announced the 18 finalists selected to compete for the chance to participate in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay.

The company launched the torchbearer search program with the help of Google to find 'new thinkers' from around the world to run the torch in China. This will be the longest ever torch relay in Olympic history with more cities visited than any past Games, states an official release.

Rajib Maitra from Kolkata, India is also one of the finalists for the Lenovo Global search for the Beijing 2008 Olympic torchbearer and stands a chance to participate in the Beijing 2008 Torch Relay.

The final selection of the torchbearers now moves into public domain. Visitors to www.Lenovo.com/torch can help determine who will become one of the three potential torchbearer nominees.

Each of the finalists has submitted a 30-second video clip demonstrating the most imaginative and innovative way they would participate in the Olympic Torch Relay demonstrating what makes them a 'new thinker.'

Voting concludes at 10 am/ET on 24 October. The top three vote-getters will be announced mid-November and be nominated by Lenovo to participate as torchbearers in the historic China portion of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay.

The finalists are from eight countries including: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, and the United States. The finalist professions range from teachers to filmmakers to a former Olympian.

To show appreciation for 'New Thinkers' registering in the campaign, Lenovo managed weekly promotions to award them Lenovo Olympic pins and Olympic Torch-themed notebook PCs. Lenovo, winner of multiple awards in PC design, is also the designer of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch.

The official torch lighting will take place in Olympia, Greece, in March 2008. The torch is planned to travel to 21 cities in five continents before spending 97 days traveling to more than 100 cities in Mainland China.

It will arrive at its final destination in Beijing on August 8, 2008, marking the start of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.