Team announced for Olympic flame's ascent of Mt. Qomolangma

MT. QOMOLANGMA, Tibet, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Zhijian, spokesman of the Chinese Mountaineering Team, announced on Friday a squad which will carry the Olympic flame to the top of Mount Qomolangma.

The team, consisting of 50 members, is composed of torch bearers, coaches, officials and other working staff, Zhang said at a press conference in the Qomolangma media center which is located at about 5,040 meters above sea level.

Zhang promised that he will announce the exact number of torch bearers in the coming news briefing.

Zhang confirmed that the team, either the mountaineers or the supportive team, are composed of Han Chinese, ethnic Tibetans, and other ethnic groups such as ethnic Hui, Tu and Tujia.

"It (climbing the summit) is a collective job, nobody can do it alone," said Zhang. "We have got ready mountaineers, the torch development service, the weather forecast, the logistic service and the TV broadcast team. Everyone is doing his or her own part."

Zhang also confirmed the official name of the torch relay on Mt. Qomolangma.

"The ascent is officially called the Beijing Olympics Torch Relay Qomolangma Leg, and the team is called the Chinese Mountaineering Team," he said.

The torch has returned to the Chinese mainland with the first stop being run in Hong Kong on Friday.

The relay has been billed as the most ambitious of all time, with an ascent of Mt. Qomolangma in May as the highlight.