Tibetans are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Olympic flame, lit Monday afternoon in Greece, and welcome its being carried to the top of Mount Qomolangma (Everest) as "an honor equivalent to an Olympic gold".

A highlight of the torch relay will be to take the Olympic flame to the summit of Mount Qomolangma in May.

"The torch relay will be Tibet's biggest contribution to the Beijing Olympics, and should bring us mountaineers honor equivalent to an Olympic gold," Nima Ciren, principal of the Lhasa Mountaineering Guide School.

"We are looking forward to it. I am confident of our athletes to successfully carry the torch to the top on behalf of the 2.84 million people in Tibet," he said.

"It's marvellous for China to hold the Olympics. I wonder if there will be Tibetan athletes participating in the game. I very much look forward to seeing their wonderful performance on TV," said Cering Lhamo, 52, praying with her prayer wheel at the Potala Palace on Monday morning.

In the Olympic licensed-product shop in the Lhasa Post Service Hall, the Olympic mascot "Yingying" with an image of an Tibetan antelope, which means "welcome", has long been the favourite of Tibetan customers.

"Although the torch model has not entered the market, some residents have already ordered in our shop," said Song Haiyan, the shop operator.

Pemba Dondrup, a 29-year-old Tibetan athlete, who made his first ascent to the top of the world's highest mountain in 2006, opened TV on Monday morning, hours ahead of the Olympic flame gathering ceremony.

"I can't wait for the torch relay. As a possible member of the relay team to bring the flame to the top of Mount Qomolangma, I am so excited and proud, " he said.

Violent riots., which the government said was organized by the Dalai clique, broke out in Tibet's capital Lhasa on March 14. Rioters set fire to shops, schools, hospitals and residences. At least 18 civilians and one police officer have been killed.

Tibetan sports authorities have pledged to take security measures to protect the torch relay against sabotage.

"We have arranged the routes and agenda. The leading team will work to prevent disturbances and sabotage", said the regional sports bureau head Degyi Zhoiyar.

The flame is scheduled to arrive in China on March 31 when a ceremony will be held in Tian'anmen Square, Beijing.

The 137,000-kilometer relay will cover 134 cities on five continents starting on April 1 and ending on Aug. 8 at the main Olympic stadium in Beijing.

(Xinhua News Agency March 24, 2008)