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Trio Named for Flame
Post Reporter

America's Cup yachting hero Russell Coutts, Lord Of The Rings film maker Peter Jackson and double Olympic swimming champion Danyon Loader will be torch-bearers for the Olympic Flame's first visit to New Zealand next month.

Coutts, Jackson and Loader are a few of the higher profile names added to the list of torchbearers yesterday, just a month before the flame makes its visit to New Zealand from June 5-7.

Coutts, skipper for a second America's Cup win in March, won a yachting gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Loader, who won two gold medals at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, said it was a great privilege to carry the flame.

"I'm looking forward to being part of the torch relay - it'll be good to put on the running shoes instead of a swimsuit."

Wellingtonian Jackson will leave the film set of Lord Of The Rings especially to take part in his hometown leg of the relay.