A team of five Italian nationals led by Mario Vielmo took the Olympic torch to Mount Makalu wishing for peace and prosperity in Nepal.

They summited Mt. Makalu with the Olympic torch on 24th May.

Mario Vielmo atop Mt. Makalu.
(Photo courtesy: Cho-Oyu Trekking)

Talking to Nepalnews, leader of the team, Vielmo, said that the main aim of bringing the torch to Mt. Makalu is to wish for the peace and prosperity in Nepal and to develop brotherhood between Nepal and Italy.

Vielmo, who also scaled the Mt. Everest in 2003 said that they opted to take the torch to Mt. Makalu as the peak is very difficult and it keeps religious importance.

Expressing satisfaction over the recent political development of Nepal, he urged all foreigners to visit Nepal as the country is very beautiful and the Nepali people are very cooperative.

Stating that Maoists had asked them for donations, he urged the rebels not to do so and not to cause any difficulty to tourists.

Other members of the team are Andrea Zamabaldi, Stefano Bertoli, Davide Ferro and Claudio Tessarolo.

An Italian national, Antonio Peretti, had brought the Olympic torch from Italy to Makalu base camp and handed it over to Vielmo to take to the top of the Mt. Makalu.

Peretti had traveled from Tumlingtar to the base camp (5600 meters high), a distance of approximately 130 kilometers, with bare feet.

Before bringing the torch to Nepal, it was taken to Pope Benedict in Vatican City and to the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala for blessing from them for peace in the country.