The Tibetan Freedom Torch was lit on April 25, 2008 in a ceremony by Rigzin Gyaltag, a member of Team Tibet. This ceremony in Zermatt in front of the Matterhorn was the start for the Swiss leg of the torch’s journey around the world.
«This torch stands for the aspiration for freedom and justice. For us Tibetans living in Switzerland it is a very moving and special moment to be here with the torch in front of the Matterhorn in a country that has become a second home for thousands of Tibetans. However, we also feel sad knowing that the people in Tibet undergo the most dramatic period of their history while we light the torch here in a free country», said Wangpo Tethong, president of the National Olympic Committee Tibet.
Rigzin Gyaltag, member of Team Tibet that was denied participation in the Olympics in Beijing, said: «It is a great honor for me to light the torch in these wonderful surroundings that remind us of our homeland. Unfortunately, it is not only a day of joy. The situation in Tibet is depressing. I use this opportunity to commemorate the fate of Panchen Lama who turns 19 years old today and has been forced to live under house arrest for more than 12 years.»