Tom Cruise, Sylvester Stallone to carry Olympic torch
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-06-11 10:46

Hollywood heroes Tom Cruise and Sylvester Stallone will help carry the Olympic torch when it arrives in Los Angeles next week on its voyage across the world, officials said.

Hollywood icon Sylvester Stallone will help carry the Olympic torch when it arrives in Los Angeles next week on its voyage across the world. [AFP]

The pair will be joined by US comedian Ellen DeGeneres as celebrity torchbearers for the Los Angeles leg of the 2004 Olympic Torch Relay on Wednesday.

The Torch relay's commercial sponsor in the United States, South Korea's Samsung Electronics America, said the stars were picked because of the example they set to people.

Stallone said he hoped that "one of my greatest contributions is helping others learn about the importance of fitness and a healthy lifestyle.

"I am honored that Samsung asked me to be a torchbearer and to be part of the Olympic spirit which is all about setting goals for yourself and striving to do your best."

Nearly 11,000 people will carry the metal and wood torch across five continents in its global relay, including all the cities which have hosted the Games since they were revived in 1896.

During the journey, it will be taken to Africa and Latin America for the first time.

The relay began on March 25 after the flame was lit by the rays of the sun at a ceremony in ancient Olympia, Greece, site of the first Olympic Games in 776 BC.

The torch left Athens on June 4 on a five-continent trip across the world that will culminate back in the Greek capital where it will return on August 13 to light the Olympic flame at the start of the Olympic Games.

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