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Torch relay chief believes in success
Time:2007-08-08 Author:roykeane

Updated£º2007-08-07



Torch relay chief believes in success (photos attached)


Zhang Ming, director of BOCOG Torch Relay Center (left) takes an exclusive interview with the official website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

(BEIJING, August 7) -- The International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to hold the first torch relay ceremony at the 11th Olympic Games in Berlin in 1934.

Since then, the sacred flame has entered the modern Olympics and become an important carrier of the Olympic spirit, symbolizing peace, friendship, equality and fairness.

On April 26, the route of the torch relay for the Beijing Olympics was made known officially, heralding the torch's long journey along the Silk Road, where the Eastern and Western civilizations once met.

Bearing in mind its responsibility, the BOCOG Torch Relay Center is preparing for its mission. Here is what the chief of the center said about their work.

Although the graphic of the torch, the route of the relay and the torchbearers' selection have been made known to the world and welcomed by the public, "my staff does not feel it can sleep on its laurels", said Zhang Ming, director of the BOCOG Torch Relay Center, in an exclusive interview with the official website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on the occasion of the one-year countdown to the Olympics.

The provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions of China, the partners of the torch relay, the Chinese Olympic Committee, BOCOG and IOC are now all engaged in the selection of torchbearers.

The authorities of all relay cities are busily mapping up the relay routes, and the center in Beijing has been in permanent contact with the cities, and making on-site inspections. By October 31, the cities should have completed their route plans, Zhang said.

Describing it as a complicated work that requires a lot of attention to detail, Zhang said the torch relay plan must indicate the beginning and conclusion time of all daily activities and ensure a smooth transition to the next city. The center plans to publish the operational plan by the end of the year, followed by tests and rehearsals.

Zhang disclosed that the torchbearers' selection will wind up by October 31. After that the center will review their qualifications, enter their ID information into a data bank and ask the torchbearers to sign an acceptance letter. The center will then make uniforms for the torchbearers according to their body height.

Torch relay chief believes in success (photos attached)
Zhang Ming, director of BOCOG Torch Relay Center

Confident about ascending Mount Qomolangma

The highlight of the torch relay in 2008 is the lighting of the sacred flame on Mount Qomolangma (Everest), and the center is doing its best to accomplish its mission.

"The ascension faces three challenges: first, technically speaking, it should be safe and faultless; second, the torch should light perfectly at an altitude of 8,844 meters in a place of low-pressure and scarce oxygen; third, TV telecast should be available to enable the world to watch the scene," Zhang said.

No such lighting has ever happened on Mount Qomolangma. BOCOG has trusted the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp. with the unique mission of devising an appropriate combustion system. The company has responded to the challenge and made experiments in North China to test combustion under low temperatures.

In May this year, the group in charge of the ascension project, led by the General Administration of Sport, made a trial ascension and torch lighting, as well as a TV telecast. The results were satisfactory. In August, the aerospace company will officially deliver the combustion technology to BOCOG. "We are confident that we shall be able to implement the program next year," she added.



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