ISLAMABAD, Feb 11: Islamabad will come under the spotlight on April 16 when the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch will pass through the capital.

Islamabad is one of the 22 venues selected around the world for the Beijing 2008 Olympics Torch Relay, said Pakistan Olympics Association (POA) Chairman Lt-Gen (retired) Syed Arif Hasan, as he unveiled the plan for the reception of torch in Pakistan at a briefing here on Monday.

The briefing, which was organised in collaboration with the Coca Cola Export Corporation, also announced six Olympic Torch Bearers who would represent the company during the torch relay in the country.

The six individuals have been selected for their contributions towards the uplift of the society.

Coca Cola nominated Syed Babar Ali, a noted business icon, philanthropist, environmentalist and the chairman Coca Cola Pakistan; Dr Yasmin Rashid who is the founder of Pani Pakistan; former world squash champion and currently president of World Squash Federation Jahangir Khan; Hassan Sardar, renowned former national hockey player and 1984 Olympics gold medalist; Ali Hassan Habib, president WWF-Pakistan; and CARE chairperson Seema Aziz. One of the three ‘concepts’ of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games is the “Green Olympics”. The Beijing Olympic Organising Committee has established this as one of the central message points in its communications and Coca Cola has aligned its messaging to help reinforce this environment-friendly theme.—Jamal Shahid