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| Torch team nears Everest summit | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Chinese climbers bearing the Olympic flame are approaching the summit of Everest, Chinese state media report. | |
| The team of 12 mountaineers were 48m short of the 8,848m (29,030 feet) peak, and were due to reach it within an hour, Xinhua news agency said. | |
| Chinese television showed live pictures of the climbers working their way up the icy slopes. | |
| The ascent began after the weather cleared following a snowstorm that damaged the team's advance camps. | |
| The main Olympic torch, which is running separately, is continuing its relay through China. | The main Olympic torch, which is running separately, is continuing its relay through China. |
| The torch was carried through the southern city of Guangzhou on Wednesday past cheering crowds with no reports of disruptions. | The torch was carried through the southern city of Guangzhou on Wednesday past cheering crowds with no reports of disruptions. |
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| The climbers are carrying video cameras to broadcast their progress. | |
| "The command centre has given its order for the final assault tomorrow," Beijing Olympics official Shao Shiwei told reporters at the Everest base camp on the Chinese side of the mountain late on Wednesday. | "The command centre has given its order for the final assault tomorrow," Beijing Olympics official Shao Shiwei told reporters at the Everest base camp on the Chinese side of the mountain late on Wednesday. |
| The journalists already knew the ascent was planned however, says the BBC's Jonah Fisher at the base camp, because China Central Television had cleared its schedule for a six-hour special called Sacred Flame to Scale Mount Qomolangma - the local name for Everest. | The journalists already knew the ascent was planned however, says the BBC's Jonah Fisher at the base camp, because China Central Television had cleared its schedule for a six-hour special called Sacred Flame to Scale Mount Qomolangma - the local name for Everest. |
| It is that image of the Olympic torch on top of the world which the Chinese are hoping people will remember, says our correspondent. | It is that image of the Olympic torch on top of the world which the Chinese are hoping people will remember, says our correspondent. |
| CHINA RELAY CITIES IN FOCUS Use the map to see the full Olympic torch relay route or read about some of the key cities: Full route map, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Jinggangshan, Shanghai, Nanjing, Huangshan, Three Gorges, Kaili, Lhasa, Urumqi, Xian, Yanji, Weihai, Qufu, Anyang, Beijing. | CHINA RELAY CITIES IN FOCUS Use the map to see the full Olympic torch relay route or read about some of the key cities: Full route map, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Jinggangshan, Shanghai, Nanjing, Huangshan, Three Gorges, Kaili, Lhasa, Urumqi, Xian, Yanji, Weihai, Qufu, Anyang, Beijing. |
| Twelve climbers chosen from the pool of 31 are to make the final assault on the peak with the flame. | Twelve climbers chosen from the pool of 31 are to make the final assault on the peak with the flame. |
| Heavy snowfall on the weekend dealt a blow to the team, badly damaging several of the high-altitude camps set up to provide a jumping off point for the final ascent. | Heavy snowfall on the weekend dealt a blow to the team, badly damaging several of the high-altitude camps set up to provide a jumping off point for the final ascent. |
| "I am very happy to say that all the preparation work has been done and the camps been rebuilt," Shao said. | "I am very happy to say that all the preparation work has been done and the camps been rebuilt," Shao said. |
| Both China and Nepal have sealed off their sides of the mountain and the ascent organisers have kept the exact plans a secret because of fears it might draw protests from pro-Tibet activists. | Both China and Nepal have sealed off their sides of the mountain and the ascent organisers have kept the exact plans a secret because of fears it might draw protests from pro-Tibet activists. |
| Human rights activists have been angered by the crackdown on anti-Beijing protests in Tibetan areas of China in March that turned violent. | Human rights activists have been angered by the crackdown on anti-Beijing protests in Tibetan areas of China in March that turned violent. |
| Mount Everest lies on the border between Nepal and Tibet, in China. | Mount Everest lies on the border between Nepal and Tibet, in China. |
| The main torch is scheduled to visit every province in China before arriving in Beijing several days before the Olympics begin on 8 August. | |
| The international leg of the torch's tour was marred by protests in several cities - including London, Paris and San Francisco - by activists upset at China's human rights record. | |
| Are you in China? Have you been to see the torch? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in China? Have you been to see the torch? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |