Camp IV is one camp below the peak summit. (CIS)Torch on Everest Tomorrow
The Olympic flame will reach the peak of Mt. Everest on the morning of May 8, according to a plan announced by relay organizers on the slopes of the mountain.
"The headquarters made this decision on the basis of the weather conditions and the team's physical conditions," says BOCOC spokesperson Shao Shiwei.
The torch is scheduled to attain the summit by 11 o'clock a.m., accompanied by 12 climbers on the so-called "attack team". Another seven will fill support roles.
CCTV is expected to broadcast the trip live. Diving champion Yang Jinghui begins the Guangzhou relay. (Xinhua)
While the high-altitude torch has been parked at Mt. Everest waiting for good weather, the main torch relay reached Guangdong province.
Olympic diving champion Yang Jinghui ran the first leg of the relay in the city of Guangzhou on May 7. He was followed by more than 200 more torchbearers on a 43 km route. More than one million spectators watched the relay, according to Chinese media.
The main torch is scheduled to tour Shenzhen on May 8, but if the Everest ascent takes place, the main relay will pause for a day.
Foreign Ministry Calls out Dalai Lama, Admits Visa Changes
The Chinese Foreign Ministry says Beijing will have more talks with the Dalai Lama, but continues to call the spiritual leader an Olympic saboteur.
"We hope that Dalai will honor his words, truly stop separatist activities, stop plotting and provoking violent activities and stop disrupting the Beijing Olympics, so as to create conditions for further talks," said MFA spokesman Qin Gang at a regular briefing on May 6.
Two representatives of the "central government" met with two personal envoys of the Dalai Lama last weekend, according to Qin.
At the same briefing, Qin admitted that the Chinese government has tightened visa rules ahead of the Games. The Chinese foreign ministry says obtaining a visa for China is much easier than for many other countries because there is no thumbprinting or eye scan. (Getty Images)
"We have explained on many occasions that we haven't stopped issuing multiple-entry visas, but made some legitimate and appropriate arrangements in line with the practices of previous Olympics and major international sports events so as to ensure a safe environment," he said.
Many foreigners resident in China, businesspeople and travel agents have reported receiving notice of tighter rules or even facing eviction from the country.
Beijing Briefs…
The third batch of Beijing Games tickets sold out in two days, according to Chinese media reports. A total of 1.38 million tickets went on sale Monday morning. By Wednesday night, the only tickets left for mainland buyers were for football matches in co-host cities.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations denounces attempts to tie the Tibet issue to the Beijing Games, in a statement issued during a meeting in Singapore. "Linking the Tibetan issue with the Beijing Olympics will serve no purpose other than to politicise the Games," reads a statement by the Singapore Foreign ministry, host of the Asean Senior Officials meeting. The May 7 statement came after Chinese assistant minister of foreign affairs He Yafei briefed the so-called "Asean plus three" leaders about the Games. "The Asean members also expressed confidence that the Beijing Olympics would be a success," the Singapore statement continues.
Written by Maggie Lee
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