China yesterday denied reports that it had issued a ban on Everest expeditions via Tibet in early May, when the Olympic torch is scheduled to scale the world's highest peak.
"We never published such an announcement and we will accept all expeditions, whether Chinese or foreign," an official from the China Tibet Mountaineering Association said.
"Expeditions will face no problem as long as they conform to the laws and regulations," the official said.
PHOTO: AFP
But a mountaineering source in Nepal, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told a slightly different story.
"A couple of days ago [the China Tibet Mountaineering Association] sent an e-mail that said we could only get permits after May 10," said the source, who is involved in organizing expeditions on the northern approach to Everest through Chinese-controlled Tibet.
The Chinese association told expedition organizers that overcrowding and environmental pressures meant they had to ask all commercial expeditions to stay off the mountain, the source said.
The specialist US-based Internet site www.mounteverest.net said earlier China had decided to ban expeditions from its side of Everest until May 10. May and September are the most popular months for expeditions on Everest.
The Olympic torch is to scale the peak in May as part of the domestic leg of the Beijing Olympic torch relay, which runs from the beginning of the month until Aug. 8, when the opening ceremony of the Games is held in Beijing.
Last September, the Nepal Mountaineering Association said that China had imposed stricter regulations for access to Everest through Tibet in the lead-up to the torch relay ascent.
BACK ON COURT: After arriving on court in a brightly colored outfit with a giant bow, Osaka stunned Ostapenko to record her first top-10 win in four years Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday survived US Open first-round wobbles to stay on course for a semi-final showdown, while two-time champion Naomi Osaka made a tearful and colorful return to Flushing Meadows. World No. 1 Sinner fought back from a set and break down to defeat 140th-ranked Mackenzie McDonald in his first match since being embroiled in a doping test controversy. Italian Sinner battled to a 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 win over American opponent McDonald at Arthur Ashe Stadium, racing away with 18 of the last 22 games. The 23-year-old was returning to action just a week after it was revealed
The first step for swimmer Ali Truwit was overcoming her newfound fear of the one place she had always felt safe — the water. Because the sound of water, any sound involving water, instantly triggered flashbacks to the day she swam for her life after being bitten by a shark. She and a friend were snorkeling in the ocean off Turks and Caicos on May 24 last year when a shark charged and bit Truwit’s lower left leg. Bleeding and with the shark circling, Truwit went into competitive swim mode and raced about 69m toward the safety of the boat. She was rushed
Brighton & Hove Albion’s in-form Kaoru Mitoma yesterday returned to the Japan squad as Hajime Moriyasu’s side eye an eighth straight appearance at the FIFA World Cup. Japan face China at home on Thursday next week and Bahrain away five days later to start the decisive third round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. The 27-year-old winger Mitoma has not featured for Japan since the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar in January, when injury restricted him to two substitute appearances. He was ruled out for the rest of last season after he returned to Brighton, but he has started the new
South American soccer was on Tuesday in mourning following the death of Uruguayan defender Juan Izquierdo, who collapsed on the pitch after experiencing an irregular heartbeat during a Copa Libertadores game last week. The 27-year-old had been undergoing medical treatment since collapsing during Nacional’s game against Brazilian side Sao Paulo at Morumbi Stadium on Thursday last week. Izquierdo fell unconscious in the 84th minute without coming into contact with another player. He was taken off the pitch in an ambulance before being treated at the intensive care unit of Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein. The hospital said in a statement that Izquierdo died at