sports mania

Three Filipinos will carry torch in the 2008 Olympic torch in China, including CNN's Beijing bureau chief Jaime FlorCruz, his daughter Michelle FlorCruz, and marketing executive Maroc Torres.

Mr. FlorCruz was scheduled to carry the Olympic torch on August 6 in Beijing, two days before the opening ceremonies of the Games.Michelle, a student at the International School in Beijing, will carry the torch on August 3 in Tangshan City, and Torres on July 5 in Lanzhou, Gansu province.

FlorCruz and Michelle, 17, were selected by the Beijing City government for their contribution to China, while Torres placed second among eight foreigners selected by an Olympic sponsor company to carry the Olympic torch through an Internet voting competition called "expats for Olympic torchbearers" last year.

Philippine Ambassador to China Sonia Cataumber Brady said it would be a "great honor" for the Philippines to be represented in the event.

"We also hope that during the Beijing Olympics, we will finally win our very first Olympic gold medal," she said.

FlorCruz, was a former Time magazine Beijing bureau chief, he first arrived in Beijing in August 1971. One of the 15 Filipino youths who were invited by the China Friendship Association for a three-week study tour, FlorCruz stayed on when martial law was declared in the Philippines; he has remained there for the past 37 years.

"I covered the 1988 Seoul Olympics for Time Magazine and Sports Illustrated. Now I am looking forward to covering the Beijing Games as well, this time as CNN's Beijing Bureau Chief. It would be fun not just to report on it but to actually participate as one of the torch bearers during the relay," he said.

His daughter Michelle has this to say about her forthcoming experience: "I was "Made in China," born in the Philippines, and bred in Beijing. I guess that makes me a top quality product, a fusion of different cultures."

"I love Beijing and I love the Olympics. Proof of this is that I declined an opportunity to move to Shanghai if only for the Olympics. I also know now that my destiny of being in the Olympics will be fulfilled," Torres said.