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Published on April 22, 2008

Daily Xpress

The mystery of actor Christopher Benjakul's missing Olympic torch was solved yesterday, but a new one has cropped up with the find of an extra torch in front the Olympic Committee of Thailand (OCT) headquarers.

Christopher's torch wasn't "snatched away" as he claimed, OCT president General Yutthasak Sasiprapa told a press conference at Ban Amphawan, the organisation's headquarters.

He said it was all a misunderstanding. Once the actor had passed on the flame during Saturday's relay through Bangkok, volunteers had kept his torch in the coach carrying the torchbearers who had completed their stage.

Yutthasak said the torch carried by Nuannoi Timkul (Kru Noi) had also been kept in a safe place by staff of Samsung, the event's main sponsor.

"At first, I asked Tourism and Sports Minister Veerasak Kowsurat if I should ask China to send two more torches to replace the missing two of Kru Noi and Christopher. However, now that they've been found, we need not ask for more," said OCT secretary-general Maj-General Charouck Arirachakaran.

"I'm more than delighted to get my torch back. It will be a good memento and a great honour for my family," Christopher said after his and Kru Noi's torched were returned to them at the press conference.

However, a city sanitation worker found an unclaimed Olympic torch, the 81st, in front of the OCT headquarters early yesterday morning. It had not been lit.

"I think the Bogoc [Beijing Olympic Games Organising Committee] might have had some reserve torches for the Bangkok Leg," Yutthasak said.

"If no one can prove they are the owner, we will keep the torch in the OCT museum," Charouck said.

XTRA

Epic journey

>> The Olympic flame will travel 137,000km in 130 days.

>> 22,000 torchbearers from 21 countries are taking part.

>> Bangkok was the 13th of 21 cities on the flame's route.

>> Eighty torchbearers took part in the 10.5km route.

>> Started at the Chinese Gate in Bangkok's Chinatown. Ended at the Royal Plaza.

>> 100-150 metres - the distance run by each torchbearer.