06 July 2001 Singapore's mountaineers
launch "Make It Real!" programme Pioneer expedition aims to provide
a meaningful experience for students [BACK]
Singapore
- 06 July 2001 - Acting
Minister for the Environment and Minister of State for Communications
and Information Technology, Mr Lim Swee Say, launched the
"Make It Real!" (MIR) programme in conjunction with the Singapore
Xixabangma Expedition 2002 today.
In March 2002, a team of top Singaporean
climbers led by Dr Robert Goh, will be attempting to climb
Xixabangma, the highest peak in Tibet, standing at 8,027 meters,
So far, no mountaineering team in Southeast Asia has accomplished
this feat.
Under the MIR programme, students here
will, for the first time, have the opportunity to be directly
involved with a Singapore mountain climbing expedition. The
National University of Singapore (NUS) has shortlisted candidates
for the programme. These selected students will first be sent
to New Zealand for a Technical Mountaineering Course to acquire
basic mountaineering skills, after which a final group of
students will be chosen to trek to the Xixabangma Base Camp
and Advance Base Camp in May next year to meet with the Expedition
team there.
Dr Robert Goh, Team Leader of the Xixabangma
Expedition 2002, said "We want this expedition to be a meaningful
experience for the students. The MIR Programme aims to give
our youths the necessary help to scale new heights and the
opportunity to realise their dreams."
The expedition's Patron and Acting Minister for the Environment
and Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology,
Mr Lim Swee Say said, "The Xixabangma Expedition 2002, and
in particular, the MIR Programme, is a laudable effort both
on the national and community levels. I applaud our experienced
mountaineers for taking the initiative to share their expertise
and experience with the youths."
Xixabangma Expedition 2002 is especially
significant, as 2002 has been declared by the United Nations
as the "International Year of the Mountains". The International
Mountaineering and Climbing Foundation - the supreme body
for mountaineering worldwide and recognised as the International
Federation for mountaineering/climbing by the International
Olympic Council - is spearheading relevant mountaineering
activities around the world, including expeditions/competitions
organised by various federations to generate greater public
awareness of the mountains. In Singapore, the Singapore Mountaineering
Federation (SMF), together with their affiliated members,
has also lined-up a series of activities next March in support
of the effort. The Xixabangma Expedition will surely be one
of the major highlights.
The whole expedition is expected to cost
S$685,000, covering travel, equipment, communications system,
food, climbing gears, etc. The team has raised over S$200,000
to date and is appealing to the public and corporations for
further sponsorship.
The Expedition is endorsed by the Singapore Mountaineering
Federation, Singapore Sports Council and the National Youth
Council. To date, the sponsors of the Expedition include Singapore
Pools, Singapore Sports Council, National Computer Systems,
Siemens Showa Solar Panels, NERA Telecommunication, Safra
and Zen Vision (Oakley products). This project is also made
possible by a Youth Development Fund grant from the National
Youth Council.
Dr Goh said, "We hope that more corporations will come forward
with their support in making this meaningful and historic
milestone for Singapore a reality. My team and I are encouraged
by the support we have received to date. We are especially
grateful to Singapore Pools, our Summit Sponsor, for their
generous support. We are also honoured to have Acting Minister
for the Environment and Minister of State for Communications
and Information Technology Mr Lim Swee Say as our Patron."
Interested sponsors can contact the team at xixa@xixa.com.sg
for further details.
About Xixabangma
Expedition 2002
The Singapore Xixabangma Expedition from March to May 2002
aims to push the limits of high altitude mountaineering. The
team plans to climb into the death zone (8,000m) without using
supplementary oxygen and without depending on pre-built camps,
a style known as the Alpine Ascent.
The aims of the Expedition in climbing
Xixabangma are:
To push the limits of mountaineering
in Singapore
To increase awareness and broaden the
scope of high altitude mountaineering
To promote a healthy and balanced lifestyle
The Expedition is endorsed by:
Singapore Mountaineering Federation
Singapore Sports Council and the National
Youth Council
To date, the sponsors of the Expedition
include:
Singapore Pools
Singapore Power
NTUC Income
Singapore Sports Council, Timberland
GlaxoSmithKline
Weber Shandwick Singapore
Safra
National Computer Systems
DSO National Laboratories
NERA Telecommunications
Siemens Showa Solar
FotoHub
WL Gore
Xantic and Zen Vision (Oakley products).
This project is also made possible by a
Youth Development Fund grant from the National Youth Council.
——————————————————————————————— For further information:
Angelina Ong Weber Shandwick Worldwide, Singapore
Tel: 825 8031
Fax: 720 8102
Email: aong@webershandwick.com
