Search For Olympic Torch Bearer Begins

Media release
September 25, 2007

Search For Olympic Torch Bearer Begins

The search is on for a Kiwi to carry the flame for New Zealand when the Olympic Torch Relay visits Australasia next year.

The international segment of the Olympic Torch Relay has evolved into one of the world’s biggest road shows, and is a key event in the lead-up to Beijing 2008. The relay starts in Athens on April 1 and stops off in 22 other cities across the globe – including Canberra on April 24 – before heading to China on May 4.

Thanks to Samsung, New Zealanders who have shown great commitment to their community can be rewarded with the opportunity to run in the Canberra leg of the Olympic Torch Relay. The search for the torch bearer is being held in conjunction with the New Zealand Olympic Committee.

NZOC secretary-general Barry Maister says the Olympic Torch Relay is a great way for an “ordinary Kiwi to be a part of an extraordinary event”.

“If you know someone who has gone the extra mile for your community, we want to hear about them. It can be anyone – from volunteers who devote their spare time to helping others, to long-standing administrators of the local sports association.

“It’s this type of Kiwi – you could call them a local hero – who we think deserves the accolade of carrying the torch for New Zealand,” Mr Maister says.

Nominations for the person to become New Zealand’s only Olympic Torch Relay representative can be submitted by going to www.samsung.co.nz/olympictorchrelay, and selecting the New Zealand Resident button on the nomination form page.

The nominations will be judged by double Olympic gold medallist and NZOC Olympic Ambassador Danyon Loader, NZOC secretary-general Barry Maister, and Samsung New Zealand general manager marketing Jean-Philippe Diel.

Mr Diel says the Olympic Torch Relay has become synonymous with the ideals of sharing and unity around the globe.

“Samsung is proud to be the Presenting Partner of such a significant global event. Together with the NZOC, we hope Kiwis get into the Olympic spirit and embrace the Search for an Olympic Torch Bearer to represent New Zealand.”

The person who nominates the chosen candidate to carry to Olympic torch will receive a Samsung U700V mobile phone.

Earlier this year, Samsung Electronics New Zealand announced its move to be a primary sponsor of the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) and support the New Zealand Olympic team to Beijing 2008 on top of Samsung’s global association with the Olympic movement.

For more information or to arrange interviews, contact:
Pete van Schaardenburg
nbpr
04) 494 5135, 021) 348 696

ENDS

About Samsung Electronics
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2006 parent company sales of US$63.4 billion (about $NZ85 billion) and net income of US$8.5 billion.

Employing about 138,000 people in 124 offices in 56 countries, the company consists of five main business units: Digital Media Business, LCD Business, Semiconductor Business, Telecommunication Network Business and Digital Appliance Business.

Recognised as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is Samsung Electronics is the world number 1 producer of colour TVs, memory chips and TFT-LCDs and a leading producer of mobile phones.

For more information, please visit www.samsung.co.nz
or call 0800 SAMSUNG

About the NZOC
The New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) is an independent organisation responsible for providing inspirational experiences for athletes at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and Youth Games.

The NZOC actively promotes the history and values of the Olympic Movement through a wide variety of cultural and educational programmes, and operates according to the Olympic Charter and Commonwealth Games Constitution.

The NZOC is funded principally through corporate sponsorship, trusts, Sport & Recreation New Zealand (SPARC) and the International Olympic Committee.

To find out more about the NZOC, please visit www.olympic.org.nz

About the Olympic Torch Relay
The Olympic Torch Relay starts on April 1 and finishes on August 8 at the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Canberra is one of 23 cities outside of China which host a leg of the relay on its international tour from April 1-May 3.

It is expected 2380 runners will carry the torch before it heads to China for a three-month relay ending on August 8 at the Games Opening Ceremony.

Other cities on the relay include Mumbai, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City, Macau, Hong Kong, Taipei, Seoul, Pyongyang, Nagano, Jakarta, Muscat, Islamabad, Almaty, St Petersburg, Istanbul, Athens, Paris, London, Dar es Salaam, San Francisco, and Buenos Aires.

A total of 21,780 runners will take part in the relay. It will travel more than 137,000km on its 130-day voyage.

To see terms and conditions and eligibility rules for Olympic Torch Relay runners, go to www.samsung.co.nz/olympictorchrelay and select the Code of Conduct/Terms and Conditions page.

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