Special report: 2008 Olympic Games

    By Sportswriter Wang Jimin

An expert with a torch design lab under the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp. said at the Qomolangma Base Camp on Wednesday that the Olympic torch can scale the summit without sputtering out.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    QOMOLANGMA BASE CAMP, April 30 (Xinhua) -- An expert with a torch design lab under the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp. said at the Qomolangma Base Camp on Wednesday that the Olympic torch can scale the summit without sputtering out.

    The ascent of the torch to the Mt. Qomolangma will be one of the highlights of the torch relay for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

    "The torch and the lantern used for the Qomolangma expedition are high-tech ones capable of withstanding gale-force wind, low temperatures and even the oxygen-thin air atop the Mt. Qomolangma," said Gao Bingxin, deputy director of the design lab.

    "Some experts argue that the mountaineers will think like five-year-old kids on the world's highest peak, so the lantern and the torch must be easy to handle."

    The Olympic flame was lit in ancient Olympia, Greece on March 24. After running through 19 countries on its international tour, the torch arrived in China's Hong Kong on Wednesday. The flame's tour in China includes the Mt. Qomolangma in May and Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, in June.

    On the world's highest peak, ferocious winds and temperatures of minus 30 degrees Celsius (minus 22 Fahrenheit) are the major troubles in lighting the torch, but the Chinese scientist has expressed full confidence in the torch relay.

    "The torch was designed specifically and after the tryouts carried out last year, we can say that our torch can stay alight in the tough, oxygen-sparse conditions that leave even experienced climbers struggling, and everyone will be able to see a bright flame."

    "I can also assure you that if the Mt. Qomolangma grew higher by 200 meters tomorrow, our torch could still burn at the summit."

    The torchbearers will take the flame to the world's highest peak on a day in May that presents the best climatic condition for the ascent.

    It will be the safest month for climbing considering weather conditions.

    The Olympic flame was introduced to the modern Olympics in 1928. Ahead of each Games, the torch is lit at Olympia in Greece, site of the ancient Olympic Games, and transported to the host city by a relay of runners, with the last using it to ignite a cauldron at the host stadium during the opening ceremony.

    Accidents might happen. At the 1976 Montreal Games, the torch was drowned in a rainstorm. Organizers later relit it with a backup flame lit at Olympia.

    Torch fuel has traditionally been a mix of butane and propane that gives off a bright yellow flame without releasing toxins or thick smoke, but the flame inside the lantern for the Qomolangma relay is burning a solid substance, one share of which can stay alight for eight hours, according to Gao.

Olympic base camp of Mt. Qomolangma

Staff members lay a flag of the Olympic logo at the base camp of Mt. Qomolangma at the altitude of 5,200 meters in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region April 30, 2008. A team for weather report, communicaitons, power supply, fire control and media is working at the base to ensure the success of the Beijing Olympic torch relay on Mt. Qomolangma.  (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

Theme songs for Olympic Torch Relay, Volunteers unveiled on 100-day countdown 

    BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Beijing Olympic and Paralympic torch relay theme song and two theme songs for the volunteer programs were unveiled Wednesday, the 100-day countdown to the Olympic Games, at Tai Miao at the Beijing Working People's Culture Palace.

    The trio songs, "Light the Passion, Share the Dream" "I am A star" and "Smile Beijing", which jumped out from nearly 80,000 contested songs, were finally released at the Fourth Olympic Songs Contest on Wednesday evening. Full story

Hong Kong holds ceremony to welcome 2008 Olympic flame

Hong Kong holds a ceremony Wednesday to welcome the sacred flame of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, which arrived here this afternoon. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    HONG KONG, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong held a ceremony Wednesday to welcome the sacred flame of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, which arrived here this afternoon.

    Speaking at the ceremony, Executive Vice President of the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee Yang Shu'an said that after some 30 days of relay, the sacred flame of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games eventually arrived in Hong Kong, back to the motherland. Everyone is expecting successful relay of the Olympic torch in the city with great excitement and anticipation. Full story