Hot Rod shines

9:18pm Wednesday 9th June 2004

Race of light on Olympic trail as Rod takes the torch A LOCAL karate instructor has been chosen to run in the London Olympic torch relay.

Rod Butler, who leads several Shotokan karate clubs in the borough, will be one of 140 torchbearers on the 48km route which winds through London on Saturday, June 26.

London is one of 34 cities participating in the global Olympic torch relay which celebrates the homecoming of the Olympic Games to Athens in July.

Mr Butler will join famous sporting personalities including Roger Bannister, Frank Bruno and Tim Henman on the route which starts at Wimbledon and finishes in the Mall in central London.

Sponsor Coca-Cola said it picked Mr Butler for his embodiment of the Olympic spirit.

Tim Wilkinson, communications director for Coca-Cola, said: "We were searching for individuals to be escort runners who particularly stood out from the crowd; people who had demonstrated commitment and inspired others around them."

Mr Butler started a karate club in Waltham Forest College 20 years ago, with classes now held in Rush Croft School, Larkswood Leisure Centre and Wanstead and Enfield.

His clubs are often visited by karate enthusiasts from across the world to take part in training.

Mr Butler said: "I am proud to be involved in the launch of the 2004 Olympic torch relay, it will be something that I'll always remember.

He added: "It would be great to see karate in the Olympic games and I am sure one day it will be."

Mr Butler has also achieved a lifelong ambition this year with the publication of his first book in July, a biography of world karate legend Keinosuke Enoeda.