TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei 101 chairwoman Janet Chia (賈永婕) led the building's first bilingual blessing ceremony on Wednesday (Jan. 21) for American climber Alex Honnold ahead of his historic free solo climb. Honnold will scale Taiwan's tallest building without ropes or safety equipment on Saturday (Jan. 24), attempting what organizers call a potential milestone in human achievement. The ceremony marks the final preparations before the high-profile climbing event.
Janet Chia addressed the risks involved in the challenge on Facebook on Tuesday (Jan. 20), acknowledging it could be a proud moment in human history. She wrote that if they can become the driving force behind a historic moment for humanity, it would be something to be proud of. The chairwoman's public statement highlighted both the danger and significance of the unprecedented climbing attempt.
The event has captured international attention, including a segment on the U.S. comedy show Saturday Night Live, one of America's longest-running sketch comedy programs. Actor Finn Wolfhard impersonated Alex Honnold in a mock interview, while comedian Kenan Thompson added humor, significantly boosting the event's global profile. The SNL appearance signals widespread interest in Honnold's Taiwan climb, extending well beyond the climbing community into mainstream audiences.
Netflix recently announced its lineup for the live-streamed event, including Emily Harrington, a renowned American climber who will provide expert commentary during the broadcast. Harrington has won the U.S. sport climbing championship five times and successfully summited Mount Everest, establishing her as one of the sport's most accomplished athletes. The streaming platform will broadcast Honnold's climb of Taipei 101 live, bringing the historic event to a global audience.