Media Release – International Sagarmatha (Everest) Day 2026
Statement by the President of the Fiji Mountaineering and Climbing Association Mr. Savneel Sangeet Kumar on the occasion of International Sagarmatha (Everest) Day 2026
The Fiji Mountaineering and Climbing Association proudly joins the global mountaineering community in commemorating the 73rd anniversary of the historic ascent of Mount Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Shri Tenzing Norgay Sherpa of Nepal, achieved on 29 May 1953.
The successful summit of Mount Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Shri Tenzing Norgay Sherpa was not merely the conquest of a mountain, but the triumph of courage, unity, and human resilience. Their partnership across cultures and nations remains a timeless testament to what humanity can achieve when determination and solidarity prevail.
Today, as we honor their legacy, we must also acknowledge the modern challenges faced by mountain communities worldwide. From the Himalayas to the Andes, communities that live in the shadow of great peaks are confronting economic hardship, fragile livelihoods, and the growing pressures of tourism. Most critically, climate change is reshaping the world’s mountains: melting glaciers, destabilizing ecosystems, and threatening both biodiversity and human survival. These challenges remind us that the spirit of mountaineering must extend beyond summits to stewardship, advocacy, and responsibility.
On this anniversary, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to all those who attempted the Everest Expedition in 2026. Their courage and perseverance embody the enduring spirit of Hillary and Tenzing. To future Everestieers, we send our best wishes: may your journeys be safe, your climbs purposeful, and your summits a beacon of hope for humanity.
Let us climb the mountains of ignorance with education, the mountains of inequality with justice, and the mountains of despair with hope. In doing so, we keep alive the flame lit atop the world’s highest peak 73 years ago.
The Fiji Mountaineering and Climbing Association reaffirms its commitment to advancing mountaineering values in Fiji and the Pacific region, inspired by the courage and vision of those who first stood atop the world.
Wishing you all a meaningful and inspiring Sagarmatha (Everest) Day.
May you continue to climb from peak to peak.
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