Winter Olympics torch is lit
Fri Oct 23 2009 08:56:19
The torch relay for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics has begun, with the sun's rays igniting the silver torch at the ancient Olympic stadium.
It was the first time in the last four winter Games torch-lighting ceremonies that the back-up flame from the previous day's dress rehearsal at the site of the ancient Olympics did not have to be used.
The ceremony kicked off an eight-day torch relay throughout Greece, including the country's ski resorts, before the torch is handed over to Games organisers in the Panathenian stadium in Athens, site of the first modern Olympics in 1896.
At the end of October the flame will arrive in Canada for the biggest-ever domestic relay, covering 45,000 kms and ending in Vancouver on February 12, the date of the Games opening ceremony.
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The 2010 Winter Olympics torch relay has begun with a ceremony at Olympia in Greece - it will eventually end in Vancouver after 106 days.
