12.5.12

Olympic Torch Lit From the Sun in Olympia

The countdown to the London Olympics began with the kindling of the Games torch by the sun's rays in ancient Olympia on Thursday, sparking a relay that will culminate with the lighting of the Olympic stadium's cauldron at the opening ceremony on July 27.



A “high priestess” played by Greek actress Ino Menegaki lit it using the rays of the sun caught in a parabolic mirror at a ceremony in Olympia.
She had to light it TWICE after the wind blew it out - but the torch was then sent on its way.
God Save The Queen was played as a Union Jack was raised over the site. Dignitaries attending the ceremony included London 2012 chairman Seb Coe and Olympics minister Hugh Robertson.
The first person to carry the torch was Spyros Gianniotis, Greece’s Liverpool-born 10km swimming world champion.
He passed it to 19-year-old Alex Loukos, who was one of the East End schoolkids who travelled to Singapore in 2005 as part of London’s bid.
The torch will go on a 70-day relay tour of the UK after being passed around the Greek mainland and islands.




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