An Indian mechanical engineer Rajib Maitra is among 18 finalists in the global search for torchbearers to the 2008 Beijing Olympics announced by Lenovo.
MUMBAI: An Indian mechanical engineer Rajib Maitra is among 18 finalists in the global search for torchbearers to the 2008 Beijing Olympics announced by Lenovo, a worldwide partner of the Olympic Torch Relay.
Maitra, who hails from Kolkata, is one of the finalists among 17 others from eight countries including Brazil, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and US.
"It feels great to be nominated among the finalists and this is the biggest thing in my life. I am extremely excited about it and looking forward to a chance to participate in the Olympic Torch Relay," Maitra said.
Maitra, a mechanical engineer and MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, lives in Kolkata with his father and relatives and has been a voluntary member of CRY - an NGO working for the welfare of children.
He, in his essay on 'what it means to be a new thinker', had said that that "new thinking for a new world means contributing to society and nation. I believe it is children who should be nurtured well to be torchbearers of any nation."
The 2008 Olympic Torch Relay is the longest ever relay in the Olympic history as it will be passing through all five continents.
Lenovo, a computer firm, which is overseeing many Olympic activities,had launched the search for the prestigious torchbearers' group, with the help of Google, to offer people across the world a chance to run with the torch in China.
The finalists this year have been chosen from a group of 'new thinkers,' Lenovo said on Monday, adding the "chosen few belong to a wide-range of professionals from teachers to filmmakers to a former Olympian."
"As a worldwide partner of the Olympic Torch Relay, we are very excited to bring torchbearer opportunities to the general public. This is an innovative approach to torchbearer nomination," Lenovo's Senior Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer Deepak Advani said.
"Using Google's search and hosting platforms, we have identified 18 people to have the chance to demonstrate their Olympic spirit with a 30-second video," he said.
"When it comes to 'new thinkers,' Lenovo is looking for someone who finds creative solutions to bring about global change. This is a unique opportunity to make someone a part of Olympic history," he added.
Lenovo, who announced earlier that a search for torchbearers is on, said yesterday they applied several criteria to select people.
New thinkers are to be motivators, provocative, imaginative, individualistic and those who explore new ways of doing and achieving things.
Winner of multiple awards in PC design, Lenovo 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 being planned to travel to 21 cities in five continents before spending 97 days while going to more than 100 cities in Mainland China.
It will arrive at its final destination in Beijing on August 8, 2008, marking start of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}