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Olympic Flame Lit in Greece

Torch begins first leg of its journey

By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff

Posted May 10, 2012 7:35 AM CDT

(Newser) – The Olympic flame has been lit and is on its 1,800-mile journey around Greece before it makes its way to London next week. A “high priestess” (read: actress) ignited the flame by catching the sun’s rays in a mirror at a ceremony in Olympia’s Temple of Hera ruins. It then briefly went out, but was relit and transferred to the first torchbearer, Greek swimmer Spyros Gianniotis, at the ancient Olympic Games stadium, the BBC reports.

The London 2012 chairman made note of Europe’s political and economic struggles in his speech to the crowd, noting that “the timeless Olympic values … are more relevant than at any time before and particularly to young people the world over.” Gianniotis passed the torch to boxer Alex Loukos, the first British torchbearer, and it will change hands some 500 times before its weeklong journey through Greece ends. On May 18, it flies to Britain for a 70-day, 8,000-mile journey through the UK.

An actress dressed as ancient Greek Priestess carries a pot with the Olympic Flame at the stadium during the lighting of the flame ceremony on Thursday. May 10, 2012, in Ancient Olympia, Greece.
An actress dressed as ancient Greek Priestess carries a pot with the Olympic Flame at the stadium during the lighting of the flame ceremony on Thursday. May 10, 2012, in Ancient Olympia, Greece.   (AP Photo/Kostas Tsironis)
Actress as high priestess Ino Menegaki passes on the Olympic flame to Spyros Gianniotis during the lighting of the flame ceremony on Thursday May 10, 2012, in Ancient Olympia, Greece.
Actress as high priestess Ino Menegaki passes on the Olympic flame to Spyros Gianniotis during the lighting of the flame ceremony on Thursday May 10, 2012, in Ancient Olympia, Greece.   (AP Photo/Kostas Tsironis)
Spyros Gianniotis, a 32-year-old Liverpool-born swimmer, who won a silver medal for Greece in Beijing, carries the Olympic Flame and and an olive branch during the lighting of the flame ceremony on May 10, 2012, in Ancient Olympia, Greece.
Spyros Gianniotis, a 32-year-old Liverpool-born swimmer, who won a silver medal for Greece in Beijing, carries the Olympic Flame and and an olive branch during the lighting of the flame ceremony on May...   (AP Photo/Kostas Tsironis)
An actress as high priestess, Ino Menegaki passes on the Olympic flame to Spyros Gianniotis during the lighting of the flame ceremony on Thursday May 10, 2012, in Ancient Olympia, Greece.
An actress as high priestess, Ino Menegaki passes on the Olympic flame to Spyros Gianniotis during the lighting of the flame ceremony on Thursday May 10, 2012, in Ancient Olympia, Greece.   (AP Photo/Kostas Tsironis)
An actress as a high priestess, holds up a torch with the Olympic flame she has just lit using a concave mirror to concentrate the sun's rays during the lighting of the flame ceremony, on Thursday May 10, 2012, in Ancient Olympia, Greece.
An actress as a high priestess, holds up a torch with the Olympic flame she has just lit using a concave mirror to concentrate the sun's rays during the lighting of the flame ceremony, on Thursday May...   (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
An actress as a high priestess, right, passes on the Olympic flame to a priestess holding a cauldron during the lighting of the flame ceremony held on Thursday May 10, 2012, in Ancient Olympia, Greece.
An actress as a high priestess, right, passes on the Olympic flame to a priestess holding a cauldron during the lighting of the flame ceremony held on Thursday May 10, 2012, in Ancient Olympia, Greece.   (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
An actress as a high priestess lights the Olympic flame using a concave mirror to concentrate the sun's rays during the lighting of the flame ceremony on May 10, 2012, in Ancient Olympia, Greece.
An actress as a high priestess lights the Olympic flame using a concave mirror to concentrate the sun's rays during the lighting of the flame ceremony on May 10, 2012, in Ancient Olympia, Greece.   (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Actress Ino Menegaki, acting as high priestess holds an urn carrying the Olympic Flame on May 10, 2012 during the lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia.
Actress Ino Menegaki, acting as high priestess holds an urn carrying the Olympic Flame on May 10, 2012 during the lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia.   (Getty Images)
British boxer Alexandros Lucas (R) runs with the Olympic Flame during the torch relay on May 10, 2012 after the lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia.
British boxer Alexandros Lucas (R) runs with the Olympic Flame during the torch relay on May 10, 2012 after the lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia.   (Getty Images)
British boxer Alexandros Lucas runs with the Olympic Flame during the torch relay on May 10, 2012 after the lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia.
British boxer Alexandros Lucas runs with the Olympic Flame during the torch relay on May 10, 2012 after the lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia.   (Getty Images)
Dancers perform during the London 2012 Olympic Torch during the Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame at Ancient Olympia on May 10, 2012 in Olympia, Greece.
Dancers perform during the London 2012 Olympic Torch during the Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame at Ancient Olympia on May 10, 2012 in Olympia, Greece.   (Getty Images)
Priestess perform during the London 2012 Olympic Torch during the Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame at Ancient Olympia on May 10, 2012 in Olympia, Greece.
Priestess perform during the London 2012 Olympic Torch during the Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame at Ancient Olympia on May 10, 2012 in Olympia, Greece.   (Getty Images)
High Priestess Ino Menegaki lifts the Archaic Pot at the Temple of Hera during the Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame at Ancient Olympia on May 10, 2012 in Olympia, Greece.
High Priestess Ino Menegaki lifts the Archaic Pot at the Temple of Hera during the Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame at Ancient Olympia on May 10, 2012 in Olympia, Greece.   (Getty Images)
A general view at the Temple of Hera during the Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame at Ancient Olympia on May 10, 2012 in Olympia, Greece.
A general view at the Temple of Hera during the Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame at Ancient Olympia on May 10, 2012 in Olympia, Greece.   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
DraftyBeer
May 10, 2012 10:52 PM CDT
Thats a nifty flame throwing fart machine.....
B-Diddy
May 10, 2012 5:30 PM CDT
They are so Fucking broke, they had to use the sun to light it. And they couldn't even keep it lit!
GenericLeftist
May 10, 2012 10:17 AM CDT
As Rome burns Nero dances from his diamond studded pulpit.

 
2012 London Olympics • Olympic Games • Olympic torch • Olympic flame • Olympics • Summer Olympics

 
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