The Olympic torch has reached the summit of Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world, Chinese media reported Wednesday.
Norbu Zhamdu, left, lights the Olympic torch of Mount Everest torchbearer Gegyi at the top of the mountain in this photo released by China's Xinhua news agency. (Ngawang Chagxi/Xinhua/Associated Press)Live television footage showed a Chinese mountaineering team holding up the torch and Chinese and Olympic flags Thursday at the top of the mountain.
The 19-member team broke camp at 8,300 metres before dawn on Thursday and reached the top of the 8,850-metre mountain about six hours later, around 9:20 a.m. local time.
Organizers of the Beijing Games, which begin in August, hope the dramatic image of the torch reaching the summit will make up for damaging publicity during protest-marred stages of international legs of the relay. The Everest torch summit was done largely in secret in an effort to deter protesters.
Good luck to 'em...
That's a good place for a thyng! I also wish them luck.
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