Conservative AM still holds a torch

Mohammad Asghar pictured in 1964 Credit: Mohammad Asghar AM

When Assembly Members met the current crop of Olympic torch carriers earlier this week, none knew about the flame-carrying past of one of their own number. The Conservative AM for South Wales East, Mohammad Asghar - known to all as Oscar - knew all about the thrill of running with the torch because he'd done it himself nearly fifty years ago!

As the picture below shows, the young Oscar was given the honour of carrying the torch in the Mall, Lahore in his native Pakistan back in 1964. That was ahead of the games held in Tokyo that year.

Mohammad Asghar in 1964 Credit: Mohammad Asghar

Back in 1964 he recalls running with the torch for a mile and when I asked him if he could do that now, he just laughed. The torch remains at his family home in Pakistan.

And about holding a modern-day Olympic torch, Oscar now says: