Olympic flame reaches Mount Everest summit

MSNBC ^ | 5/7/2008 | AP

[Red in Blue PA]

BEIJING - A Chinese mountaineering team took the Olympic flame to the top of the world Thursday, a spectacular feat dreamed up to underscore China’s ambitions for the Beijing games.

The climbers could be heard struggling for breath in a live television broadcast as five torchbearers each shuffled a few feet before passing on the flame to the next person. A colorful Tibetan prayer flag lined the path and fluttered in the wind.

The final torchbearer, a Tibetan woman named Cering Wangmo, stood silently on the peak with her torch while other team members unfurled small Chinese and Olympic flags. They then clustered together, cheering “We made it,” and “Beijing welcomes you.”

[Red in Blue PA]

The chinese sure have a sense of irony.....using a Tibetan leader to get the flame to the summit of Everest.

[Mercat]

OK, Chinese government evil but still, this is pretty amazing. I’m still trying to smooth down the goose bumps. Maybe I need a shower.

[DogBarkTree]

Agreed. Im no fan of the Chicoms but I have to credit them for their ‘thinking big’ on this stunt.

[Mount Athos]

[Hot Tabasco]

Everest has pretty much been relegated to vacation destination status these days.........

[Red in Blue PA]

Are you serious? Sherpas regularly summit Everest with ease. It is a feat for westerners; not for Sherpas.

One Sherpa (babu chiri) actually spent the night atop Everest.

In May 1999 he spent a record 21 hours on the summit without oxygen, even sleeping there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babu_Chiri_Sherpa

[TigersEye]

China says it has ruled Tibet for centuries, although many Tibetans say their homeland was essentially independent for much of that time.

Surprise surprise, the Chinese are lying through their teeth.

History of Tibet