Proud Pakistani carries Olympic torch

ISLAMABAD: It was a moment of pride for Pakistan when Syed Naveed Hussain — a Pakistani national who has been working on top positions with the United Nations for the last 29 years — carried the torch for the 2018 Olympics and Paralympic Winter Games in Seoul, South Korea.

The International Olympic Committee and the Pyeongchang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympics and Paralympic Winter Games selected Naveed, among others, to participate as a torchbearer in the journey to ‘Let Everyone Shine’.

Naveed is currently representing the UNHCR in South Korea.“I felt honoured to be one of the very few Pakistanis who were selected to accompany the UN Secretary General to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001, as well as carry the Olympic torch in 2018. Both events are the most prestigious ceremonies in the world,” Naveed said while talking to this scribe.

Naveed seized the torch relay event to promote the rights of forcibly displaced persons.“At present, there are more than 65 million forcibly displaced persons in the world, with the most recent refugee crisis being about Rohingyas. For the sake of humanity and stability, the world must come together and help them,” stated Naveed, who studied at FC College in Lahore, Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad, and the universities of Leeds and Oxford.

Reacting to Naveed’s participation as a torchbearer, UNHCR Geneva tweeted: “Proud to see our Korea representative Syed Naveed Hussain run with 2018 Olympic torch in South Korea.” UNHCR Korea wished for the success of the Olympic Games with hopes that the Olympic spirit will also help in bringing the world closer together for peace and solidarity.

The 2018 Olympic torch is 700mm in length, representing the altitude of Pyeongchang, which sits 700 metres above sea level. The five-pronged shape of the golden flame is a visual expression of the slogan for Pyeongchang 2018, “Passion Connected.”

The torch was also designed with the Olympic spirit of bringing together all five continents. The handle, in particular, has been decorated with a pattern symbolic of people holding hands, signifying the fact that people around the world are coming together to participate in the Olympic torch relay.

The sleek curve of the torch was inspired by Korea’s traditional white porcelain, and the white colour also represents the Olympic Winter Games, a festival of snow and ice. Designed in consideration of the freezing cold weather of Korea’s winter, the torch can keep its flame burning even in strong wind and heavy snow.