ISLAMABAD, March 27: The Islamabad route of Beijing Olympic Torch Relay was declared on Thursday with the Chinese ambassador reposing full confidence in Pakistan’s administrative and security abilities to carry out this Olympic ceremony for the first time in their capital city next month in a befitting manner.

President of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) Lt Gen (rtd) Syed Arif Hasan and Chinese ambassador to Pakistan Luo Zhao Hui disclosed the route of the torch relay in a colourful ceremony at the Pakistan Sports Complex here on Thursday.

Luo Zhao Hui termed the Olympic Torch Relay, to be held on April 16, as another manifestation of China’s all-weather and close relations with Pakistan.

Emphasising the unique bond between the two countries, he said: “Pakistan is a beautiful country and both countries are tied in great friendly relations.”

The official mascots of the 2008 Games, a group of five dolls, named ‘Fuwa’ (means “good-luck dolls”) were also displayed at the ceremony. Each of the five figures also represents one of the five Olympic Rings.

The April 16 torch relay, with its theme ‘Journey of Harmony’, would cover a distance of 5.5km within Islamabad with a 30-minute closing ceremony.

Under the route plan, the torch will be lighted at the Old Parade Ground at Jinnah Avenue near the Aiwan-i-Sadr and will then pass through Constitution Avenue Boulevard, Suharwardy Road, Serena Hotel, and Kashmir Highway before turning into the Pakistan Sports Complex.

At the Pakistan Sports Complex, the relay will go round Jinnah Stadium before ending at the Liaquat Gymnasium where a dazzling ceremony, embellished with folk music and acrobatics, will take place.

The relay, to be telecast live, will last nearly five hours.

Pakistan is among the 19 countries selected by the Beijing Olympic Organising Committee for the torch relay.

A host of officials from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Beijing Olympics Organising Committee will accompany the Torch Relay when it arrives in Pakistan.

Addressing the media conference, Lt Gen Hasan said after meetings with the law enforcement agencies in the capital a foolproof security plan had been chalked out for the mega event, adding that the torch would arrive in Islamabad from Muscat, Oman on April 16 before leaving for New Delhi later on the same day.

However, for unknown reasons, officials of the POA declined to reveal the names of the former athletes and players who would carry the Olympic torch.

Meanwhile, a source said that as many as 89 players including six sponsors are likely to carry the torch.

Nine committees have been formed for managing the event while Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani will head the steering committee.

Sending a clear warning to those who are politicising the Beijing Olympics, Luo Zhao Hui said the event would be one of the best and historic sports events in the world’s history, maintaining that the current situation in Tibet would not disturb the Games.

He added that “the Games would start exactly at 8:00pm on Aug 8 as ‘8’ is the lucky number for the local people of China”.