Olympic torch lit ahead of relay for London Games

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GREECE (NEWS1130) – The Olympic torch was lit today in Greece, officially starting the countdown to the Olympics this summer in London.

The lighting ceremony took place in front of the ruins of the 2,600-year-old temple of Hera, next to the ancient stadium, where the ancient games were staged. An actress dressed as a high priestess used a concave mirror to focus the sun’s rays to light a torch.

For the ancient Greeks, fire was a divine element believed to have been stolen from the gods.

The torch will be run through Greece for the next week before it’s handed over to London organizers. It will then reach the Olympic stadium in the UK on July 27th to light the cauldron at the opening ceremony of the summer games.

The games are now 78 days away.

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