Tom Cruise, Sylvester Stallone to carry Olympic torch
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-06-11 14:15

Hollywood stars Tom Cruise and Sylvester Stallone will carry the Olympic torch when it arrives in Los Angeles next week on a 78,000-kilometer global relay, officials said on Thursday.

The pair will be joined by US comedian Ellen DeGeneres as celebrity torchbearers for the Los Angeles leg of the 2004 Olympic Torch Relay on Wednesday.

The Torch relay's commercial sponsor in the United States, South Korea's Samsung Electronics America, said the stars were picked because of the example they set to people.

Stallone said he hoped that "one of my greatest contributions is helping others learn about the importance of fitness and a healthy lifestyle.

"I am honored that Samsung asked me to be a torchbearer and to be part of the Olympic spirit which is all about setting goals for yourself and striving to do your best."

Nearly 11,000 people will be involved in the torch relay acrossfive continents, visiting 34 cities in 27 countries.

During the journey, it will be taken to Africa and Latin America for the first time.

The flame was lit on March 25 by the rays of the sun at a ceremony in ancient Olympia, Greece, site of the first Olympic Games in 776 BC.

The torch left Athens on June 4 for its worldwide voyage. It returns home for the second leg of domestic relay on July 9 beforelighting the Olympic flame at the start of the Olympic Games on August 13.