MT. QOMOLANGMA BASE CAMP - China has stepped up preparation for the Olympic flame's ascent of Mount Qomolangma as the squad to carry the flame atop was announced on Tuesday at a press conference held in the Qomolangma media center which is 5,040 meters above sea level.

The squad to carry the flame atop Mount Qomolangma is announced at a press conference held in the Qomolangma media center May 6, 2008. [cnsphoto]

Zhang Zhijian, spokesman of the Chinese Mountaineering Team, named the 36-strong team, including 24 ethnic Tibetans, 10 Han Chinese, one from Tu ethnic group and one from Tujia ethnic group.

"This well-organized team consists of experienced mountaineers and some university students who have climbing experience, so I believe they will augment each other in every respect of the ascent," Zhang said.

The original Qomolangma mountaineering team came into being in November 2006 when over 70 climbers gathered separately in Beijing's Huairou and southwest China's Tibetan Autonomous Region. The team include members of the Tibetan Mountaineering Guide School and university students with climbing experience. All the recruits must have at least climbed mountains with altitude of 6,500 meters or above for once.

The two squads joined each other in March 2007 for further training and selection. In May 2007, a test-run went well as 17 climbers scaled the Mt. Qomolangma and finished the high-tech lighting of the lantern and torch.

After that, the newly formed Chinese Mountaineering Team was preparing themselves for the historic ascent in Beijing, Yunnan Province and Tibet before they were short-listed for a 36-man squad.

"The final 36-man squad is picked up on basis of the climbers' performance in training and test-runs," said Zhang.

"They must be physically strong, passionate, and willing to make contribution to the Olympic movement."

Zhang also confirmed that the team will be headed by the well-known alpinist Wang Yongfeng.

Wang will be assisted by two Tibetan coaches, one Han Chinese coach and another ethnic Tu coach.

The team, with an average age of 30.2, will also see three women climbers, two Tibetans and one Han Chinese.

"The snowfall in the past couple of days had some impact upon our schedule but everything is under control," said Zhang. "The trails and some of the tents have been destroyed, so the main job the torch climbers are doing now is fixing those damaged facilities."