Cai Yingbo

    DIRK THOMAS from the United States said Thursday he was greatly honored to be chosen as a torchbearer to represent the expatriate population in Shenzhen.

    “I have been busy keeping fit after I was chosen to be a torchbearer, running three times a week and losing around three kilograms,” said Thomas while preparing for his run Thursday.

    Thomas, 53, was the only foreign torchbearer selected by Shenzhen for the relay for his contribution to the city in the past 16 years.

    After retiring from the position of president of Shenzhen Hitachi Global Storage Technologies last year, he started is own business in Shenzhen.