Symbolism heavy as Olympic torch readies for Everest

EVEREST BASE CAMP, China (Reuters) - Putting the Olympic torch atop Everest was meant to be a celebratory moment ahead of the Beijing Games, but the Tibet protests have made the project even more important for China.

The ambitious plan to carry the flame to the summit of the world's highest mountain was put forward as part of China's bid seven years ago to stage the Games in August.

Then, it was envisaged as a symbol of Chinese unity, ethnic harmony and national prestige.

But the outbreak of violence in Tibet and its neighboring regions in March, followed by a wave of protests around the international leg of the Olympic torch relay, have underscored Beijing's resolve about its sovereign claim to the region.

"There's a lot of publicity about cooperation between the Han people and the Tibetan people in climbing up Mount Everest, as a sign of solidarity, cooperation, friendship and so on," said Joseph Cheng, professor of political science at City University of Hong Kong.

"Of course it certainly symbolizes China's control of Tibet, that Tibet is part of China. It has these two added meanings, making the attempt even more significant," he added.

But that symbolism sits uncomfortably with some following this year's unrest in Tibet, mainly those who campaign for greater freedom in the tightly controlled, remote region.

"The Chinese government is ... determined to take the torch up Mount Everest on the Tibetan side in a callous attempt to legitimize its baseless claims to sovereignty over Tibet," the Free Tibet Campaign says on its website.

A team of 31 Chinese climbers were already on the world's highest mountain on Wednesday making preparations for the final assault on the 8,848-metre summit, which sits astride the border between the Chinese region of Tibet and Nepal.

SEED IS SOWN

The germ of the idea came from China's top mountain climbers, who suggested in 1999 that torches be lit on the highest peaks of the five inhabited continents and the flames brought together at the opening ceremony of the 2001 University Games in Beijing.

The plan was never realized, but the seed was sown and the ascent of Everest with the Olympic flame was a commitment when China successfully bid to host the 2008 Games in Moscow in 2001.

International Olympic Committee members were told that a Tibetan would hand the torch to a Han Chinese on the peak of Everest, known in China as Mount Qomolangma, to symbolize the unity of the nation.

"It is an arduous, complicated and systematic undertaking that symbolizes the spirit of the Green Olympics, high-tech Olympics and People's Olympics," said China Mountaineering team spokesman Zhang Zhijian.

"It is a common aspiration and collective task of multi-ethnic coordination. Many ethnic groups including Han, Tibetan, Tu and Tujia have participated in the event. Only solidarity between the groups could make the undertaking possible."

The Everest flame is separate from the main Olympic torch that arrived in mainland China on Sunday after touring 20 nations.

Organizers have kept plans for the Everest ascent a closely guarded secret for fear that it may also be blighted by protests by pro-Tibet activists. Both Nepal and China have sealed off the area.

(Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Beijing; Editing by Nick Macfie and Jeremy Laurence)

(Take a look at the Countdown to Beijing blog at blogs.reuters.com/china)