London 2012: Olympic Games flame lit in Greece
The flame was kindled by a "high priestess" who captured the morning sun's rays in a parabolic mirror.
The ceremony came amid political and economic turmoil in Greece, the home of the Ancient Olympics, where a week-long leg of the relay will be held, Kazinform has learnt from BBC News.
The flame flies to Britain on 18 May for a 70-day relay around the UK .
The lighting ceremony took place in front of the ruins of the Temple of Hera, next to the ancient stadium.
Actresses playing Olympic priestesses danced and men dressed as heralds put on a display symbolising athletic strength.
'High priestess' Ino Menegaki then lit the flame in the bowl-shaped mirror and used it to light a Greek Olympic torch.
The flame - an Olympic symbol meant to represent purity because it comes from the sun - was then placed in an urn and taken to the stadium where the ancient Olympic Games were staged.
Locog Chairman Lord Coe, International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge and Hellenic Olympic Committee president Spyros Capralos were in Olympia for the moment marking the countdown to London 2012.
Lord Coe told the BBC: "Today is the rallying call to the athletes - the best athletes of their generation - to come to London. That in itself is a big moment because it's the biggest sporting event in the calendar."
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