¡¡¡¡ATHENS, Dec. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- Greek mountaineer Nikos Mangitsis departs from Athens in the coming days with the Land of Fire as his destination and from there to the Antarctic and the conquest of the South Pole where he will place the flag of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

¡¡¡¡Local press reported Monday that the 33-year-old mountaineer from Volos, central Greece, five months ago (August 1) had placed the Athens 2004 flag at the highest peak in Europe, at the 5,642-meter Elbrus in the Caucasus.

¡¡¡¡This time, he will attempt a triple mission: conquest of the South Pole, and climbing to the highest peak of the Antarctic (Vinson 5,129 meters) and the highest peak of the Andies (Aconcagua6,960 meters), which is the highest peak on the American continent.

¡¡¡¡The mission, which will last about 60 days and is expected to be completed in mid February, is held under the auspices of the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee (ATHOC). Enditem