Olympic Flame Lit in Olympia

Olympia, Greece - November 27, 2005

The Olympic Flame was kindled in Olympia, Greece today in a ceremony in the Temple of Hera in this lush, riverside sanctuary in the western Peloponnese. The flame was lit by the “ancient high priestess” dressed in a white gown and sandals (portrayed by Greek actress Theodora Siarkou) using the rays of the sun reflecting off a concave, burnished-steel mirror, and then transported in an ancient Greek urn replica to the area of the ancient Olympian stadium where it was used to light the Olympic Torch.

Following a short stay in Greece, the Olympic Flame will begin its Italian journey on December 8, 2005, when Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi will light the Torch at the Piazza del Quirinale in Rome. From here, the Flame will be carried by 10,001 torchbearers. On its first day in Italy, the torch — designed by Ferrari engineers — will enter the Vatican to be blessed by Pope Benedict XVI. Football players Francesco Totti of AS Roma and Paolo Di Canio of Lazio will light each other's torch. The relay will include gondolas, a Ferrari sports car and a cavalry regiment.

The Olympic Torch Relay will travel across Italy and neighbouring countries - Slovenia, Austria, Switzerland and France – and will conclude on February 10, 2006 in Torino’s Stadio Comunale when the flame will be used to light the Olympic Cauldron at the Opening Ceremony of the XX Olympic Winter Games – Torino 2006.

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