Sheikh Mohammed hails Armed Forces Everest team as ‘heroes’

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  The Armed Forces team was welcomed back to the country on May 26 after scaling Everest.

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  A member of the team that scaled Everest gives photographs to young guests and students during a Sea Palace barza. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

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  Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, at a Sea Palace barza with members of the Armed Forces team that conquered Mount Everest recently. Rashed Al Mansoori / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

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  To make their final push for the summit the team had to climb 1,600m over the course of 17 hours from camp three, stopping only for a brief rest at camp four in the oxygen-deficient so-called “death zone”, while enduring temperatures as low as -30°C.

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  The summit is at 8,848 metres above sea level – approximately the cruising altitude of a jet aircraft.

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  A member of the Armed Forces team speaks during the Sea Palace barza. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

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  Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, left, Lt Gen Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, second right, and Sheikh Saeed bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, right, with a member of the Armed Forces team. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

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  A 12-member Armed Forces women’s team also returned home this month after climbing 5,364 metres to reach Everest base camp. They also earned Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed’s praise. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

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  To make their final push for the summit the team had to climb 1,600m over the course of 17 hours from camp three, stopping only for a brief rest at camp four in the oxygen-deficient so-called “death zone”, while enduring temperatures as low as -30°C.

ABU DHABI // The Armed Forces team who climbed Mount Everest are heroes and role models for Emirati youth, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed has said.

Sheikh Mohammed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, expressed his pride in the team while receiving them at the Sea Palace on Monday.

He praised the team’s feat of climbing the world’s tallest peak and their spirit of cooperation, teamwork and determination, reported Wam, the state news agency.

“I feel proud about the Emirati sons and daughters, who are also children of Zayed,” he said, referring to the nation’s Founding Father.

“We were aware the task was difficult. Many of us in the UAE watched the team members while they were climbing Everest.

“The risk was high and we were stricken with fear, but awed with your resolve to continue the mission.”

The team members thanked Sheikh Mohammed for his support, which they described as motivation for them. A group of students from Abu Dhabi schools were also present at the palace to meet the team and give them flowers.

The Armed Forces team returned to the UAE on Thursday after scaling Everest and planting the country's flag at the summit. Their expedition followed five years of training that took them to locations around the world, including Alaska, Switzerland and Morocco.