One of the more curious inclusions among the Olympic torchbearers are two diplomats with a Korean connection: the former British ambassador to Korea and the Korean ambassador to the UK (pictured above).
Martin Uden carried the torch in Knotty Ash. He writes that he hopes that his involvement in the Torch Relay “would be symbolic of the many connections between the UK and Korea, two great sporting nations and Olympic hosts of the London 2012 and Pyeongchang 2018 Games.”
Korea is also the base of major Olympic sponsor Samsung.
Uden works as MD for British Business Embassy for UK Trade and Investment, but writes a guest blog for his former employees at FCO here about his experiences carrying the torch
Korean ambassador Kyu Ho Choo, who will carry the torch in the London Borough of Brent on July 25, says in his nomination story that he “still enjoys running and an early morning stroll in Hyde Park … loves both nature and the historical legacy of the United Kingdom [and] watches and appreciates the combination of physical and mental strength of the British people”.
Also carrying the torch in Cambridge on July 6 – although she is not listed on the official torchbearer site – will be Chinese actress Li Bingbing, announced earlier this month as both the China-UK Cultural Exchange Ambassador, and the ambassador for the Samsung Hope Relay.