Olympic Torch arrives in Dar

The Olympic Torch is expected to arrive in Tanzania today from Buenos Aires, Agentina.

The Tanzania Olympic Committee (TOC) Secretary-General, Filbert Bayi, said yesterday that the torch would arrive in Dar es Salaam at 8pm.

Bayi said that the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay would take place tomorrow after the opening ceremony at Tazara.

The final torch celebrations would be staged at the 60,000-seater ultra-modern stadium in Dar es Salaam.

On his part, Dar es Salaam Mayor Adam Kimbisa promised that the race would be successful. “I would like to reassure members of the public that there is no need for worry. We are in charge and we shall ensure that the relay leg in Tanzania is a success,“ he said.

He requested Dar es Salaam residents to turn up in big numbers to take part in the global event which brings nations together.

The Commissioner of Police Special Zone Dar es Salaam, Alfred Tibaigana, said all arrangements had been finalized to ensure that the event ends peacefully.

The torch would head to Muscat, Oman after its experience in Dar es Salaam.

Dar es Salaam is one of the 22 cities which host the torch and it is the only African city chosen to host the torch
This is the first time for the torch to visit Tanzania and the East Africa region since the inception of the modern Olympic Torch Relay in 1936.

The Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay is sponsored by Coca-Cola, Samsung and Lenovo.

• SOURCE: Guardian