China's top sports official said on Wednesday the Olympic torch is ready to be relayed to Mount Qomolangma, the world's tallest peak.

"We're fully prepared for that," head of the General Administration of Sport Liu Peng said during the ongoing 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

He said China had solemnly promised the world it would relay the torch to Mount Qomolangma upon its application to host the 2008 Summer Olympics. "We will live up to the commitment."

Liu said he sees no problem for Chinese mountaineers to scale the world's summit for the torch relay.

Chinese athletes have advantages in mountaineering, a sport that has more than 40 years of history in China, he said. "Many Chinese athletes, men and women, have climbed up the mount. Some reached the peak more than once."

The Tibetan mountaineering team has so far mounted all the world's 14 mountains exceeding 8,000 meters tall, Liu told journalists at a briefing.

He said Chinese scientists have made technological advancements to protect the Olympic flame from low temperature, low oxygen, low pressure and strong gales. "We've also solved technological difficulties to ensure TV signal relays on the plateau."

A Chinese survey in 2005 found Mount Qomolangma, known to westerners as Mount Everest, stands 8844.43 meters above sea level. It straddles the border between China's Tibet Autonomous Region and Nepal. 

Anti-doping, clean Olympics vowed

The country will also strictly ban doping and assist the International Olympic Committee to host "clean" Games.

"China will strictly ban drugs in sport and step up censor," said Liu Peng, "Athletes involved in doping will be severely penalized."

According to Liu, China pays close attention to anti- doping and has banned exhilarant in its sports law.

Liu said his administration and all its provincial branches have signed anti-doping contracts with their athletes.

The Chinese team to next year's Games will consist of 570 athletes, the largest ever in China's Olympic history, he said.

China sent a 300-strong team to the Athens Games in 2004.

In preparations for the Beijing Games, he said China is building a new testing base with a state-of-the-art lab and facilities. "Very soon we'll inaugurate a national anti-doping agency."

During a recent visit to China, World Anti-Doping Agency chief Dick Pound confirmed the country's efforts in fighting against drugs in sport and said China "stands as a model to the world".

Religious services promised during Olympics

China will offer religious services for foreigners arriving for the 2008 Olympic Games, according to Ye Xiaowen, director of the State Administration of Religious Affairs, at a briefing during the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

"A large number of religious faithful will be arriving for the Games," said Ye.

China is working on religious facilities at its Olympic venues with the help of the International Olympic Committee and referring to the practices at previous Games, he said. "Our religious services will be up to the previous standards."

Ye also dismissed allegations that China restricted the printing and sale of Bibles, which he said receive state subsidies and other preferential policies.

China, with 16 million Protestant Christians, has printed 42 million Bibles, he said.

"We distribute the Bible only through churches and do not allow ordinary bookstores to sell them," he said. "This is aimed only at preventing illegal vendors from driving up prices."

Beijing to reinforce forest fire monitoring for Olympics

Beijing will strengthen forest fire prevention by building more monitoring facilities to ensure a safe environment for the Olympic Games next year.

The city plans to set up nine monitoring sites equipped with video surveillance technologies, 88 watchtowers and five meteorological stations in 2008 to provide information and immediate reports of forest fire risks.

The scheme has been approved by the State Forestry Administration and construction will start soon.

Beijing is expected to experience high temperatures and less precipitation this winter and next spring, which could increase fire risks.

At present, 94 firefighting teams, 123 watchtowers and 43 video monitoring facilities are working to ensure the safety of more than 500,000 square kilometers of forest in Beijing.

Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice Premier Hui Liangyu have ordered improvements in forest fire prevention methods and fire fighting capabilities.

(Xinhua News Agency October 18, 2007)