Torch relay to Mt. Qomolangma "showcases high-tech Beijing Olympics"

BEIJING, May 8 (Xinhua) -- The successful Olympics torch relay to Mount Qomolangma (Everest) showcased high technology applied to the 2008 Beijing Games, Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang told a press conference here on Thursday.

The torch bearers successfully completed the relay at about 9:17 a.m. Beijing time. The 19-member team reached the summit of the 8,844.43-meter (29,035-foot) mountain and successfully lit the torch over the world's highest peak.

"This is China's special contribution to the Olympics and a perfect marriage of the Olympics and science and technology," he said. "The key device used during the torch relay is the small lighter," he said.

"It can burn in temperatures of minus 40 degrees Celsius and 0.3 atmospheric pressure, and it can also withstand hurricanes," he said.

"The high-tech lighters and other devices used for the torch relay were developed after two years of joint lab and field research by experts from the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tsinghua University and the National Mountaineers Team," he said.

To realize the commitment to a "Green, High-tech People's Olympics," the nation's science and technology community had developed and applied a great number of advanced, practical innovations for construction projects for the Games, he said.

"We are convinced that the Beijing Olympics will turn out to be one of the best in its application of science and technology," he said.