The final countdown to London 2012 began today as the Olympic torch set out from the ancient birthplace of the Games.

In the Greek town of Olympia, “high priestess” Ino Menegaki captured the morning sun’s rays in a bowl-shaped mirror and used them to light an Olympic flame.

The flame was then placed in an urn and taken to the stadium where the ancient Olympic Games were staged.

Amid tight security, it was then used to light a London 2012 torch carried by Greek marathon swimmer, Spyros Gianniotis, for the first leg of a 10,000-mile relay before its arrives at Stratford’s Olympic stadium on 27 July.

The ceremony featured messages of hope and peace from International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge and London 2012 chief Sebastian Coe — but also a recognition of the dire economic climate.

A crowd of thousands — including Olympic officials, visitors and residents of Olympia — as well as millions on the internet worldwide, watched as the Union flag was raised to take its place alongside the Olympic and Greek flags as the host city for 2012.

Lord Coe said: “It’s a huge landmark. It’s the rallying call for athletes to come to London.”

“As torchbearers lift the Olympic flame in the days and months ahead, it is our hope that they will also lift the spirits and hopes of people across Britain and across world.

“This is an extremely important day, and when the torch lands in Land’s End it’s massive, there’s something about the torch starting out on domestic soil.”

The flame was lit according to tradition by the morning rays of the sun. Accompanied by drums and flutes, women in the role of “priestesses” and 14 men dressed in traditional robes danced around a temple dedicated to the goddess Hera before the torch embarked on the first leg of its journey to Athens, where it will be met by the British delegation — including Princess Anne — before it is flown to Britain next week. There was a heavy police presence at the ceremony but there were no apparent attempts to disrupt proceedings.

Spyros Gianniotis, 32, said it was a huge honour to be chosen as the first person to carry the flame, describing it as the “topping” on his career.

The Liverpool-born Greek world champion swimmer said: “It’s my last Olympics and I’m half English so it’s very important to me.”

He handed the torch to Alexandros Loukos, a 19-year-old apprentice project manager and keen boxer from East Ham.

Loukos, who was involved in Britain’s bid to host the Games as a young ambassador, said: “I’m more excited than nervous. Now London’s involved it does mean a lot to me”.

Over eight days the torch will be carried by 490 bearers across Greece before it is handed to the British delegation at the Panathinaiko Stadium. During the British relay from Land’s End it will have 8,000 bearers as it covers 95 per cent of the UK.

Craig Reedie, International Olympic Committee member and chairman of the British Olympic Association until 2005, said he hoped the torch relay would be a “unifying” experience for Britain.

Dr Jacques Rogge added: “As the Olympic torch travels the width and breadth of the UK, its powerful symbolism and the inspiring stories of many of the torchbearers will touch hearts and fire imaginations around the world.”

By Miranda Bryant
Source :  London Evening Standard