Michelle Kwan to be one of Olympic torch bearers

[Simone411]

Thanks for sharing the tweet. Congratulations, John!

[skatesindreams]

Delighted for him!

[Jot the Dot Dot]

Maybe they should for the occasion, rechristian it "Koke Klassic"!

[AnnieD]

I was just looking on the website for the torch relay and whilst I was checking the torch bearers for June 13th (I'm a teacher and my class are involved in the torch celebrations in Broxburn, West Lothian) I noticed that Tatiana Navka is listed as a torch bearer for Larbert, a small town in Central Scotland. It's also on June 13th, before the torch reaches us in Broxburn and then moves onto John in Edinburgh (although I couldn't find his name on the list). I was really surprised to see her name listed.

http://www.london2012.com/torch-rela...unity=larbert/

[Frau Muller]

Not by Coca-Cola. However, the list that Coca-Cola provided made it appear that the candidates were chosen more by service than by athletic achievement (most were not athletes).

I see - it's purely commercial.

[FunnyBut]

Congrats to all the figure skaters...Kwan, Kerr, T&D, Navka

[Sylvia]

From this local NBC TV news piece, it sounds like the Kween may have run with the torch on Day 52 (July 9)? I haven't come across any photos or video of her yet:

Billinger passed the flame into a lantern which was then carried in a celebration through Oxford. From there, Torrance-native, Olympic figure skater and two-time medalist Michelle Kwan continued the journey.

ETA: Ooooh, Coca-Cola controversy (not surprisingly): http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-18298825

Found a photo of Michelle Kwan with the torch in Oxford! https://twitter.com/alexandracruzer/...841600/photo/1

[taf2002]

From this local NBC TV news piece, it sounds like the Kween may have run with the torch on Day 52 (July 9)? I haven't come across any photos or video of her yet:


ETA: Ooooh, Coca-Cola controversy (not surprisingly): http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-18298825

Found a photo of Michelle Kwan with the torch in Oxford! https://twitter.com/alexandracruzer/...841600/photo/1

The Kween looks great! As for the controversy, how silly. When the Olys were in the US not all the runners were American. This is nothing new. What really made me was that will.i.am was chosen. Why?

[l'etoile]

Some controversy

She looks delighted, so enjoying herself

[alij]

The Kween looks great! As for the controversy, how silly. When the Olys were in the US not all the runners were American. This is nothing new. What really made me was that will.i.am was chosen. Why?

Think the "controversy" was a little blown out of proportion, i know that a few people have queried why we have had torch bearers of other nationalities running but as soon as it is explained that this is usual, there is no issue.

As for Will.i.am, apart from being a big celebrity here, particularly prominent atm through being a judge on The Voice UK, he donated his fee from the show, £500,000, to The Princes Trust to help fund a project to teach technology skills to disadvantaged children and I believe has become involved in other charitable projects in the country.

[kwanfan1818]

As for Will.i.am, apart from being a big celebrity here, particularly prominent atm through being a judge on The Voice UK, he donated his fee from the show, £500,000, to The Princes Trust to help fund a project to teach technology skills to disadvantaged children and I believe has become involved in other charitable projects in the country.

Charitable works in Great Britain are taken very seriously by the Royal Family. I'm not surprised that they might be the reason why one celebrity was chosen over the other.

[skatesindreams]

As for Will.i.am, apart from being a big celebrity here, particularly prominent atm through being a judge on The Voice UK, he donated his fee from the show, £500,000, to The Princes Trust to help fund a project to teach technology skills to disadvantaged children and I believe has become involved in other charitable projects in the country.

Good for him!

[allezfred]

Charitable works in Great Britain are taken very seriously by the Royal Family. I'm not surprised that they might be the reason why one celebrity was chosen over the other.

The Royal Family don't have any say over who is a torchbearer surely?

[alij]

The Royal Family don't have any say over who is a torchbearer surely?

No they didn't at all, I thought that comment was a bit odd too!

[Iceman]

Almost anyone can carry a torch, provided that he is at least 14 years old and is able to carry it for at least 400 meters (437 yards). Handicapped people can be (and have been) torchbearers -- they can carry the torch while riding in a wheelchair. The torchbearers are chosen by the Olympic sponsors and organizers, usually because they have made a significant contribution to their community and because they personify the theme of that particular Olympics. The Olympic sponsors (for example, Coca-Cola) also get to choose several torchbearers from within their organizations.

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.c...pic-torch7.htm

[Simone411]

Thanks for sharing that link. I also found this to be pretty interesting and neat:

It may also be ferried from place to place by car, boat, bicycle, motorcycle, dog sled, horse, or virtually any other type of conveyance.

[gofigure]

Here's another photo of Michelle carrying the torch. http://on.fb.me/NZP65C

[t.mann]

Here's another photo of Michelle carrying the torch. http://on.fb.me/NZP65C

Love this photo.

[alij]

Robin Cousins turn to carry the torch today

https://twitter.com/Waldmeisterei/st...200128/photo/1

lots of skating torch bearers considering it is a minority sport here
T&D
Robin Cousins
Michelle Kwan
Tatiana Navka
John Kerr
Alan Seabrook ( not only for his services to skating but for fostering 350 childrenO)
Suzanne Otterson

as well as less well known skaters
Danielle Harrison
Amber Ferguson
Niamh McHale
Sophie Whittam
Kelsey Nolan

[skatingfan5]

Here's another photo of Michelle carrying the torch. http://on.fb.me/NZP65C

Great picture of the Kween! Thanks for the link!