On May 7, the challenge8000 team paid a courtesy visit to the president of Malta, H.E. Dr George Abela. The visit was held in view of the presidency's expressed commitment to keep special contact with young people involved in voluntary work and sports as stated in Dr Abela's inaugural speech.

The challenge8000 team comprises three Maltese men who will attempt to climb to the top of Everest, the highest mountain in the world, in May next year. In preparation for Everest, the team will leave Malta today to climb Cho Oyu, the world's sixth highest mountain standing high at a staggering 8201metres elevation.

In the course of the meeting, the president had words of encouragement for the team and pledged his presidency's support to the challenge8000 project. He said that challenge8000 was a most laudable venture and hoped that it will inspire other Maltese people to lead a more active life.

The team, Robert Gatt, Marco Cremona and Gregory Attard, had the opportunity to discuss with the president their mountaineering aspirations and their attempt to make Maltese history by being the first Maltese to go above 8,000 metres and stand on the top of the world. They also spoke about the personal sacrifices these aspirations entail; long-periods away from home and family, difficulties in managing one's career, long hours of training, the huge costs that such an endeavour entails and other such issues.

The three men also explained how throughout the challenge8000 project they are striving to promote awareness on the quality of air in Malta and the incidence of respiratory health problems, mostly Asthma.

The president queried the team on the details of the expeditions including routes, equipment and the preparatory process before the attempts. Speaking about the training and other preparations that precede the Cho Oyu and Everest expeditions, the team said that they are embarking on a number of smaller expeditions to be able to work together on team dynamics, build their strengths, test their equipment and explore their resources. Given the long duration of the main expeditions (eight weeks for Cho Oyu and 10 weeks for Mount Everest) and the extreme conditions, the team-building aspect of training is as crucial as the physical preparations.

"Spending long hours in those conditions, with reduced oxygen, freezing temperatures and constant danger, brings out the best and worst of one's character. It's a testy experience which we need to address beforehand." explained Gregory Attard, "The challenge is primarily a psychological one."

Robert Gatt explained how the team will be choosing the South route to climb the Everest. This is the same route which in 1953 took Edmund Hilary and Tenzig Norgay to the summit making them the first men to reach that altitude.

The president also got a glimpse of some of the equipment the team will be using during their expeditions, including the specialised bulky mountain boots. Marco Cremona explained the specifications of the boots to be used on Everest highlighting issues of insulation and protection without which a mountaineer's dangers would increase considerably.

Finally, the challenge8000 team thanked the president for receiving them at the Palace and for his encouraging words.