SLOC seeking torch bearers

Jessica Warren

The 2002 Winter Olympic Games are coming to Utah, and it’s going to take 46 states and 12,500 miles to get here.

The Salt Lake Organizing Committee is looking for torch bearers to get the Olympic flame to Salt Lake City.

The theme for the torch bearer is “Inspiring the Olympian in all of us.”

“We’re looking for letters of inspiration,” said Mark Walker, a spokesperson for SLOC.

Until the end of April nominations will be taken for people who have brought out the Olympian in people around them.

So far, 15,000 people, ranging in age from 12 to 99, have been nominated from every state and Guam.

The torch will touch every state but North and South Dakota, Minnesota and Hawaii as it’s run an average of 208 miles a day, 12 hours a day, on its 65-day trek to the opening ceremonies in Salt Lake.

Walker said this is the first time Alaska has been included in the route.

The selection process will start in mid-May, and 11,500 torch bearers will be chosen and announced this fall.