Barot excited ahead of Olympic torch relay of expats in China

Raghavendra

Beijing, Jul 5 (PTI) On the eve of being the only Indian
to do the honours of carrying the Olympic torch on the Chinese
soil, Meena Barot is "absolutely excited" but a "little
nervous."

36-year-old Barot, a business manager who has been staying
in China since March 2005, will carry the torch in Lanzhou
city on July 7, as also seven other expatriates who were
chosen along with her in a public online vote in November last
year.

"I am absolutely excited. I am looking forward to the
event," Barot, who is in Lanzhou for the precious moment, told
PTI over phone.

All the eight foreign residents are expected to carry the
torch for about 200 metres during the relay.

"I am a little bit nervous," Barot said, adding, "it is a
big event. I am representing the whole country, not just
myself. It brings a lot of responsibility...how you conduct,
speak and present yourself."

But, she added with full measure of confidence that she
was "mentally prepared" for the big event.

Her parents would, however, not be able to share the
moment of joy because they had returned back home as her
father was not keeping well. But one of her company colleagues
would be in attendance on the occasion to share the joy.

The run involving the expatriates was originally scheduled
for June and deferred thrice.

During Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to China in
January, Barot had a brief talk with him.

Asked to sum up the feelings of Chinese people towards
Olympics which is little over a month away, particularly in
the context of the recent devastating quake and snowstorms,
Barot said "despite going through all these (tragedies), they
feel the show must go on. It is in the true Olympic spirit.

"They are sad in their hearts but I have not come across a
single Chinese whose feelings have been dampened or subdued.
This spirit is something one should learn from them."

The May 12 quake has killed more than 69,200 people so
far, according to official death toll, which the government
said recently is likely to cross 80,000.

Barot found the place in the expats' run after winning
votes in a month-long campaign with 262 people from across 47
nations and regions vying for the eight available slots.

Barot, proficient in Mandarin, enjoys reading books,
watching movies and playing badminton.

Seven other expats who will carry the torch are from the
U.S., the Philippines, Germany, Japan, Colombia, Russia and
Venezuela.

Applicants were asked to submit a profile justifying their
candidature, then frog marched through a public online vote
after which a selection panel made up of officials from
Lenovo, computer maker, and state-run 'China Daily' had the
final say. PTI RA
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