Technicians are confident the highest-ever Olympic flame will weather the gales, sudden hail storms and thin air of Mount Qomolangma (Everest) to burn bright and beautiful on the world's tallest peak.
Xue Li, deputy general manager of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp, designer of the torch for the 2008 Games, said a lab has been established to develop a special Olympic flame combustion system, capable of overcoming the adverse natural conditions of the mountain top.
It is capable of withstanding thin air, gales, glaring sunlight and hailstones. "The flame, about 20 to 30 cm high, should be bright and very pleasant to the eye," said the delegate to the ongoing 17th Party congress.
Xue said that besides drawing on experience from previous Olympic flame designs, the technicians have also made a number of innovations to make sure the flame can outlive wind and storms on the peak, which stands 8,844 metres above sea level.
He also assured congress members the fuel will be well stored and pollution-free.
In its bid to host the Olympics, China promised the world it would relay the torch from Olympia in Greece, the cradle of the Olympiad, to Qomolangma.
Questions:
1. How tall is China’s Olympic torch flame expected to burn?
2. How high is the Mt Qomolangma’s peak?
3. Where is the home of the Olympics?
Answers:
1. 20-30cm.
2. 8,844 metres.
3. Olympia in Greece.
（英语点津 Linda 编辑）
About the broadcaster:
Marc Checkley is a freelance journalist and media producer from Auckland, New Zealand. Marc has an eclectic career in the media/arts, most recently working as a radio journalist for NewstalkZB, New Zealand’s leading news radio network, as a feature writer for Travel Inc, New Nutrition Business (UK) and contributor for Mana Magazine and the Sunday Star Times. Marc is also a passionate arts educator and is involved in various media/theatre projects in his native New Zealand and Singapore where he is currently based. Marc joins the China Daily with support from the Asia New Zealand Foundation.
