GREECE (NEWS1130) – The Olympic torch was lit today in Greece, officially starting the countdown to the Olympics this summer in London.
The lighting ceremony took place in front of the ruins of the 2,600-year-old temple of Hera, next to the ancient stadium, where the ancient games were staged. An actress dressed as a high priestess used a concave mirror to focus the sun’s rays to light a torch.
For the ancient Greeks, fire was a divine element believed to have been stolen from the gods.
The torch will be run through Greece for the next week before it’s handed over to London organizers. It will then reach the Olympic stadium in the UK on July 27th to light the cauldron at the opening ceremony of the summer games.
The games are now 78 days away.
An actress as a high priestess, front, lights the Olympic flame 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. The flame lit in the birthplace of the Ancient Olympics will travel to London, where the Summer Games will take place from July 27-Aug. 12
Olympic torch lit ahead of relay for London Games
The games are nos 78 days away
Jaime Pulfer
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