Osmond duo to carry Olympic torch

Donny and Marie Osmond were huge stars in the 1970s

Singing siblings Donny and Marie Osmond will help carry the Olympic torch on the final stage of its journey to the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The duo, who became household names in the 1970s, will carry the torch ahead of the opening ceremony on 8 February.

The brother and sister, who have starred on stage and screen, are two members of the musical Osmond family and still live in their home state of Utah.

But it is not known if the duo will carry the torch into the stadium for the opening ceremony.

Kelly Flint, senior vice-president of the Salt Lake Organising Committee (SLOC) said they were keeping the final torchbearers' identity a secret.

He said: "The notable carriers are a lot of fun, but the ordinary heroes, the common man and woman, are the most fun for me to watch."

The Osmonds were household names around the world

A host of other local celebrities including baseball and basketball stars have signed up for the honour of running with the torch.

Each torchbearer will carry the torch two-tenths of a mile, about the distance of a lap, and will pass through 50 Utah communities.

The Osmonds had a string of hits in the 1970s including the number one Love Me For A Reason which was later covered by Boyzone.

Variety

Donny and Marie Osmond later branched out individually and as a duet from the main Osmonds group, which was comprised of Alan, Jay, Merrill, Wayne. Jimmy, the youngest brother, eventually joined too.

Donny Osmond had smash hits with Puppy Love and Too Young. Jimmy Osmond had a hit with Long Haired Lover From Liverpool.

Marie Osmond also scored a top five hit in the US with Paper Roses.

She teamed up with her brother to host a weekly TV variety show between 1976 and 1981.

They returned to US TV screens after a 20-year absence in 1998 to host a daytime chat show called Donny and Marie.