2007年6月23日上午十点，在北京奥运新闻中心，北京奥组委正式向社会发布《北京奥运会火炬手选拔计划》，启动火炬手选拔工作。北京奥运会火炬手总数为21880名。其中境内传递火炬手19400名，境外传递火炬手2480名。北京奥运会火炬手选拔主体(拥有火炬手选拔权力和资格的有关方)共有下述六方面：1.各省、自治区 、直辖市政府;2.中国奥委会;3.火炬接力全球合作伙伴、奥运会赞助商;4.奥林匹克大家庭;5.相关国家（地区）奥委会和传递城市; 6.北京奥组委。选拔方式有两种:组织系统推荐；社会公开报名。护跑手选拔工作与火炬手选拔工作同时展开。

BOCOG officially announced the Beijing Olympic Torchbearer Selection Plan in 10:00 am on June 22, 2007, launching the torchbearer selection. The number of torchbearers for Beijing Olympic Games will be 21,880, among whom there will be 19,400 domestic torchbearers and 2480 overseas torchbearers. The Beijing 2008 torchbearer selection entities¹ (relevant parties with the rights and qualifications of selecting torchbearers) include: 1. governments of all the provinces, autonomous² regions and municipalities; 2. Chinese Olympic Committee; 3. presenting partners of the torch relay and sponsors of the Olympic Games; 4. Olympic family; 5. relevant NOCs and torch relay cities; 6. BOCOG. There will be two ways of selection: nomination³ within organizations; public application. The selection of escort runners will be in parallel with that of torchbearers.