Olympic flame ready for Mt. Qomolangma

WATCH VIDEO

Source: CCTV.com | 05-01-2008 09:43

All preparations have now been completed as the Olympic flame gets ready to scale Mount Qomolangma. The Chinese mountaineering team is waiting for the right moment to climb to the top of the world's highest peak.

All preparations have now been completed as the Olympic flame gets ready to scale Mount Qomolangma.

The Chinese mountaineering team have all their equipment and are on their way. The torchbearers will be selected from this group.

Hu Jiayan, Vice Minister of General Administration of Sport said "Preparations to put the Olympic Torch on display at the top of Mount Qomolangma started three years ago. The hard work since then will ensure our success."

Two kinds of torches have been designed and tested for over 1000 hours to cope with the low temperatures, atmospheric pressure and lack of oxygen.

The base camp of Mount Qomolangma has been completed after two months of construction, with the yellow camp acting as the headquarters. Orders to go for the peak will be issued from here. Advanced meteorological equipment is being used to provide accurate weather information. The torch will be carried up the mountain in the coming days, but the exact time will depend on weather conditions.

The flame reached base camp on Sunday.

Editor:Xiong Qu