UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > Cheng to carry Olympic Torch

Chinese driver to be part of history

A1 Team China racer Congfu Cheng is about to become part of Olympic Games history when he participates in the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay next week.

In an honour that is afforded to very few athletes, let alone racing drivers, he will be a Torchbearer for the Olympic Flame as it sets out on its path across Greece on Monday, its final journey before the Games of the XXIX Olympiad – Beijing 2008.

The tradition that goes back to the year 766 BC, when the first recorded Olympics were held.

‘It’s a great honour to be one of the torch runners and to carry the torch flame in Greece,’ said Cheng, who is from host city Beijing. ‘To be given this opportunity is a dream for all sports people and I’d really like to thank all the people who have got me here.

‘I was rung asking if I would like to do it. I said, providing it doesn’t clash with A1GP, I would love to. To be honest it didn’t feel like much at first, but when I put the phone down it sunk in and I realised what an unbelievable honour it was to do it.’

The journey of the flame in Greece is full of ancient symbolism. On Monday 24 March, it will come to life in Olympia and the High Priestess of the ceremony will hand it over to the first of the Torchbearers.

Cheng’s duties will be on the first day of its 1528 km journey where the flame will be in the hands of 605 Torchbearers, through 16 prefectures, 43 municipalities, 12 municipality districts, and four communities. It will arrive on 30 March in the Panathenian Stadium with the final Torchbearer and then on the eve of the handover to Beijing, the flame will spend the night on the ancient Acropolis.

After his torch bearing duties, Franky will head to Shanghai for the penultimate round of the 2007/08 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport on 11 – 13 April 2008.

Written: Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:27:12