Belorussians at Everest.

Once again the belorussian expedition to Everest (8848 m), the highest peak of the world, was postponed.

The joint expedition of climbers of Belarus (12 members) and China was planned on coming spring. But the Ministry of finance refused donating from the budget because of the republican economical crisis. The climbers wanted 70-100 thousand dollars from the state. Infobank agreed to give 40 thousands. The climbers decided to get 20-25 thousands from sponsors.

The minister of sport and tourism Nikolay Ananiev wrote a letter to the government where he underlined the importance of the event for the belorussian people. The climb was postponed from the spring of 1999 to 2000.

The republic may be proud of the fact that she is in the list of the countries that conquered the highest peak of the Earth in the XX century. Victor Kulbachenko from Borisov did it in the spring of 1998. And now Everest is waiting for the whole belorussian team to come.
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By Konstantin Stoliartchuk.
Translated by Olga Dubeshko and Olga Detiuk
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