New Delhi: Amid intense secrecy and high security, the Beijing Olympic torch will arrive here past midnight for the relay here on Thursday.

The flame will arrive here from Pakistan where the relay took place on Wednesday, officials said. With the threat of Tibetans trying to disrupt the relay looming large, authorities are keeping the programme a closely-guarded secret.

IOA officials merely said the hallowed flame is "expected to reach here from Pakistan any time after midnight." The first destination of the torch is expected to be the Le Meridien hotel, situated closest to historic Rajpath where the relay will take place.

For the fear of disruption by the Tibetans, the IOA has not even disclosed the timing of the 2.3 km run, saying it will take place "sometime in the afternoon." In the Indian leg of the torch relay, 70 people, majority of them sportspersons, would run with the flame from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to the India Gate.

"The whole world is looking forward to see a grand torch relay in India and we are confident that we would put up a great show on Thursday," IOA president Suresh Kalmadi said without disclosing any details of the programme.

Source : PTI