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Torch is Lit in Greece for 2008 Games
By USOC.Staff // U.S. Olympic Committee // March 24, 2008
Colorado Springs, CO – The Olympic flame was ignited Monday in Greece, beginning the long journey on the road to the Summer Games that will take the Torch through 20 countries arriving in Beijing at the end of March.
The actress Maria Nafpliotou, dressed as a high priestess, lit the flame using a convex mirror to focus the sun's rays on the Olympic torch. The ceremony was held near the Temple of Hera in Ancient Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympics.
International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge attended the ceremony at the 2,800-year-old birthplace of the ancient games in southern Greece.
From Olympia, the flame will embark on an 85,000 mile journey. The torch is to arrive March 31 in Beijing. It will then travel through 20 countries before returning to mainland China.
The first torchbearer will be Greece's Alexandros Nikolaidis, winner of the silver medal in Taekwondo at the Athens Games in 2004.
The Olympic Flame represents the gift of fire given to man by the Greek god Prometheus and dates back to the original games when a fire was kept burning during throughout the entire celebration.
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