Sign up to The Irish Times Archive (1859 - 2008)My Account »

Fri 04 Apr 2007Chinese torch route sets sparks flying in TaiwanOLYMPICS:China unveiled the world's most politically charged flame yesterday, when it outlined the route for the Olympic torch relay and said the symbol would pass through political rivals Taiwan.The torch, a red-and-silver tube resembling a traditional Chinese scroll, will cover 135 cities and 137,000 kms next year in advance of the games, which begin on August 8th. Organisers even intend to run the relay torch across the top of Everest - the world's tallest peak at 8,850 metres (29,035 feet).