New Delhi, Apr 7 : Indian Olympics Association President Suresh Kalmadi on Monday said Sachin Tendulkar has confirmed his participation in the Olympic torch relay to be held in New Delhi on April 17.

Sachin will share the honour with the other stars-Tennis player Leander Paes, Bollywood actors Saif Ali Khan and Soha Ali Khan, ex-Olympian Milkha Singh, golfer Jyoti Randhawa.

Other distinguished individuals will include Tata Consultancy Services CEO Subramanian Ramadorai, Ingram Micro India CEO Jaishankar Krishnan and Orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Vaibhav Bagaria.

Earlier today protests against the torch relay ahead of the Beijing Olympics have spread to France's capital, Paris.

The president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Jacques Rogge, expressed concern over unrest in Tibet and the torch protests.

"I am very concerned with the international situation and what's happening in Tibet. The torch relay has been targeted. Violence for whatever reason is not compatible with the values of the torch relay or the Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee calls for a rapid peaceful resolution in Tibet," Rogge said.

Officials twice extinguished the torch and put it on a bus for safety reasons.

The French protests come after 37 people were arrested during pro-Tibet protests which disrupted Sunday's relay in London.

ANI