17 May 2010

NZOC plays tribute to Everest conquerors

3:26 pm on 17 May 2010

The New Zealand Olympic Committee has paid tribute to Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in announcing a Commonwealth Games team's identifier bearing the mountaineers' names and the number 29028 .

The team mark represents the legacy created on May the 29th,1953, when Hillary and Tenzing climbed Mt Everest for the first time, and 29028 is the height in feet the BBC reported then.

The NZOC secretary general, Barry Maister, says Tenzing lived most of his life in India and Sir Ed was High Commissioner there so the Delhi Commonwealth Games in October is an ideal time to honour two great men.

The 29028 campaign was announced today at Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate in Manukau City, where the Queen's Baton Relay began it's New Zealand leg.