The Olympic flame will be in good hands when it passes through Greater Cincinnati streets Dec. 17-18.

        About 100 local residents, chosen because they embody the Olympic spirit and inspire others, will carry the flame one-fifth of a mile as part of the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Torch Relay.

        The flame was lighted last month in Greece at the ancient birthplace of the Olympics. It was flown to Atlanta, site of the 1996 Summer Games, and on Tuesdaybegan a 65-day relay that will cover 13,500 miles through 46 states. The flame will arrive in Salt Lake City Feb. 8 for the start of the Winter Games.

        Torchbearers were nominated by relatives, friends and colleagues. Of the 210,000 nominations gathered through the Salt Lake Olympic Committee and corporate sponsors Coca-Cola and Chevrolet, community judges selected 11,500 people to carry the glass, silver and copper torches.

        Here's a look at six of them.

The Tristate's torchbearers
Torchbearer: Mark Tsuang
Torchbearer: Nick Westermeyer
Torchbearer: Sarann Mock
Torchbearer: Terri Goshorn
Torchbearer: Thom Phillips
Torchbearer: Tommy Weber