411 days to go
A real heavyweight is already emerging as one of the names to watch during next year's Olympics, although it's still unclear whether this giant will be a hero or villain of the event.
Topping out at 8,850 metres, the titan in question is no less than Qomolangma, or Mount Everest as it is known outside the mainland, which technically qualifies to compete for both China and Nepal in the games. And Everest is central to Beijing's efforts to promote the games.
In April, the Beijing Games organisers said they planned the longest torch relay in Olympic history - an 137,000km, 130-day route that would cross five continents and reach the summit of the world's tallest mountain.
A Chinese team are believed to have already reached the summit with the torch in May as part of a rehearsal; after all, the organisers wouldn't want any nasty surprises during the actual relay itself, the Everest portion of which promises to be one of the visual highlights of the games.
However, the choice of route has annoyed environmentalists, who say it will damage the fragile eco-system of Everest, already under threat from a climbing boom on its slopes.
