Olympic Games Torch Bearer Contest

LAST MAN STANDING
(Samsung Olympic Torchbearer Challenge, February 2004)

By Volunteer Writer

Mention the Olympics and one thinks of endurance and sheer determination. Which makes the "last man standing" image at the Samsung Olympic Torchbearer Challenge at the Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza last weekend most apt.

In this case it was the last man standing and with his arm high up, no less. That was no easy feat and it earned Mr Kamal Akhtar $10,000 in cash and a trip for two to Greece. He was taking part in the fascinating challenge in the heart of Singapore.
Overcoming the rain, sun and dehydration, he proved too strong for the other 200 over participants, including his closest rival Jamie Tan.

The contest started on Saturday, with participants who could take the pace standing almost six hours holding a mock torch upright. It then continued on Sunday.Kamal and Jamie, both 24, lasted another 7hr 44min as a 1kg weight was added to the paper torch.

Perceptibly relieved after his win. Kamal, a service engineer, said each day had its unqiue challenge. On Saturday, he felt numbed holding up the light paper torch. On Sunday, there was pain as the torch was made heavier.

The hardest part was when everyone else had given up except him and Jamie. Then it became a matter of who wanted to win more. For Kamal, what kept him going was the thought of being among 10,000 torchbearers carrying the Olympic flame around the world before the Olympic Games begin in Greece on Aug 13.