An actress dressed as the High Priestess arrives with the Olympic flame for the Olympic torch lighting ceremony at the Temple of Hera in Ancient Olympia, Greece. The ceremony organised by the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC) to light the Olympic Flame was held today inside the Temple of Hera at the historic ruins of the home of the ancient Olympic Games. LOCOG
• Running from 10 to 17 May 2012, the 3,000km (1,864 mile) Greek leg of the Torch Relay will see the Olympic Flame reach approximately 40 communities and be carried by around 500 people
• London 2012 Bid ambassador is second Torchbearer on the 8 day journey across Greek mainland and islands
• Images from today’s Lighting Ceremony will be available to download here from 11:30am (BST).
The ceremony organised by the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC) to light the Olympic Flame was held today inside the Temple of Hera at the historic ruins of the home of the ancient Olympic Games.
Following the traditional ceremonial rites, the Olympic Flame was lit at noon local Greek time (10:00am BST) by the High Priestess, Ino Menegaki, using the sun’s rays at the Temple of Hera in Ancient Olympia. During the hour long Lighting Ceremony, the High Priestess made use of a parabolic mirror to capture the sun’s rays to create the Olympic Flame that will be carried by 8,000 inspirational people in the UK from Saturday 19 May to Friday 27 July 2012. In a procession choreographed by Artemis Ignatiou, the Flame was then brought into the Ancient Olympic Stadium itself.
The Lighting Ceremony was preceded by the UK and Greek national anthems, the recital of ‘The Light of Olympia’, and speeches by
Efthymios Kotzas, the Mayor of Ancient Olympia; Spyros Zannias, Chairman of the Olympic Torch Relay Commission; Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee; Spyros Capralos, President of the HOC and Sebastian Coe, Chair of London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).
An actress dressed as the High Priestess holds the Olympic torch during the lighting ceremony at the Temple of Hera in Ancient Olympia, Greece. The ceremony organised by the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC) to light the Olympic Flame was held today inside the Temple of Hera at the historic ruins of the home of the ancient Olympic Games. LOCOG
Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee, said: ‘The lighting of the Olympic flame in ancient Olympia is always a moment of great significance for the Olympic Movement.
As the Olympic torch receives the flame and is held aloft by the first Torchbearer, we are reminded through its light of the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect that it carries on its journey.’
He continued, ‘The London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay will celebrate those values, as it tours the country that invented modern sport and the spirit of fair play. It will also celebrate the many inspirational Torchbearers, who, like the athletes that will compete in London this summer, will help to inspire a generation, as they invite the world to gather and celebrate the Games of the XXX Olympiad.’
Spyros Capralos, President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, said: ‘We are pleased to share our culture and tradition with the UK and the world. We will carry the Olympic Flame 3,000 kilometres around Greece and reach around 40 communities before we entrust the safe keeping of the Olympic Flame to the UK.’
Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG, said: ‘The Olympic Flame lit today in Olympia will connect the ancient Games and the modern Games. Cities, towns and villages across Greece and Britain will be connected together and to the London 2012 Olympic Games forever. Sport has enduring and universal appeal, and the timeless Olympic values transcend history and geography; values, which, I believe, in these challenging times are more relevant than at any time before, particularly to young people all over the world.
Actors dressed in the robes of the ancient Greeks perform in the ancient Olympic stadium following the lighting ceremony at the Temple of Hera in Ancient Olympia, Greece. The ceremony organised by the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC) to light the Olympic Flame was held today inside the Temple of Hera at the historic ruins of the home of the ancient Olympic Games. LOCOG
‘This is the second time representatives of the UK have gathered here to celebrate the lighting of the Olympic Flame.
In 1948, shortly after the Second World War, my predecessor stood where I am today and made the first tentative steps in turning the world from war to sport.
We find ourselves in challenging times again and turn to sport once more to connect the world in a global celebration of achievement and inspiration.’
Minister for Sport and the Olympics Hugh Robertson, said: ‘This is a significant moment in our journey to the 2012 Games. Lit in a ceremony steeped in tradition, it is exciting to think that in just eight days the Olympic flame will arrive on our shores for a Torch Relay that I hope the whole country will embrace.’
British-born Greek 10km swimming world champion Spyros Gianniotis, had the honour of then starting the Olympic Flame’s journey across Greece, as he carried it from the Ancient Stadium via Pierre de Coubertin’s Grove, before handing the Flame on to 19 year old London Borough of Newham resident Alexandros (Alex) Loukos.
Alex whose father is Greek was selected by LOCOG to carry to the Olympic Flame in Olympia. He was one of the youngest Bid representatives in Singapore, helping London to win the Olympic bid in July 2005, and is today, once again, representing the youth of London.
Alex Loukos, said: ‘It is an unbelievable honour to be a Torchbearer in the Olympic Torch Relay, especially carrying the Flame in Olympia and representing the city of London.
I have grown up with London 2012 – from helping with the bid in Singapore when I was twelve, to witnessing the incredible regeneration of my home in East London as the 2012 Games have taken shape and changed the area forever, to now with this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be one of the first to carry the Torch for the London Games.’
From the Lighting Ceremony in Olympia, the HOC will take the Olympic Flame
Alex Loukos from Great Britain is the second person to receive the torch during the torch relay. The ceremony organised by the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC) to light the Olympic Flame was held today inside the Temple of Hera at the historic ruins of the home of the ancient Olympic Games. LOCOG
on an 8-day relay around Greece, showcasing the beauty and history of the Greek mainland and islands, travelling to the island of Crete before going to Piraeus, Thessalonica, Xanthi and Larissa among many other communities before arriving at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens on the evening of Thursday 17 May 2012 for the Olympic Flame Handover Ceremony that is expected to start at 19:00 local time (17:00 BST)
The Olympic Flame will then travel to the UK from Athens on Friday 18 May, landing in the evening at RNAS Culdrose, ahead of the start of the Olympic Torch Relay on Saturday 19 May 2012.
Presented by Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung, the Olympic Torch Relay will take the Olympic Flame on a 70-day and 8,000 mile journey across the UK. 8,000 Torchbearers will carry the Olympic Flame for approximately 300 metres each, passing the Olympic Flame from Torch to Torch until it reaches the Olympic Stadium on the evening of 27 July 2012. The Olympic Flame will journey to within 10 miles of over 95% of the UK population.
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