ATHENS, Greece – Magic Johnson (search), Carl Lewis and Gail Devers, along with "Friends" star Jennifer Aniston (search), will help carry the Olympic torch on its journey around the world.
Australia's 400-meter Olympic champion Cathy Freeman will be the first torch bearer June 4 in Sydney, when the flame starts a 46,800-mile trip across six continents, 27 countries and 33 cities with about 11,000 runners. Freeman also lit the Olympic (search) flame for the 2000 Sydney Games.
In Brazil, the flame's first appearance ever in South America, the torch will be carried by soccer stars, including Pele, Ronaldo and Zico.
In addition to Johnson, Devers and Lewis, Olympians Michael Johnson and Edwin Moses and actress Angelina Jolie were selected. Aniston, about to end her run on the popular NBC show, is of Greek descent.
In London, Roger Bannister, Steve Redgrave, Tim Henman and Sally Gunnell are among 140 torch bearers who will carry the flame through the city.
The 78-day journey also includes stops in Cairo, Egypt, and Cape Town, South Africa.
The flame was lit in Ancient Olympia on March 25 and brought to Athens' marble stadium, where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896.
The torch relay returns to Greece on July 9 for the second half of its domestic relay. Jolie will carry the torch during one of the final stages of the relay for the Aug. 13-29 Olympics.
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