NEWS

Olympic torch lit in
Olympia

24-03-2008

The Olympic torch has been lit today in
front of the Temple of Hera on the historic grounds of Olympia, in
the birthplace of Olympism, where the Ancient Olympic Games took place. The
flame was lit successfully by a Holy Priestess, according to the traditional
ritual, using the sun’s rays and a parabolic mirror.

Passing by the tomb of Pierre de Coubertin

Following the mythical lightning, the
priestess entered the Ancient Olympic Stadium with the torch and handed it over
to the first runner of the Beijing 2008 Torch Relay. The young man passed by the
tomb where Pierre de Coubertin’s heart is buried, to launch the long journey of
harmony of this Relay. The torch will be crossing five continents and stopping
in 21 cities around the world before reaching China, where it will
stop in over 100 places. On 8 August, it will enter the Olympic Stadium in
Beijing during the Opening Ceremony to light the Olympic cauldron.

Harmony and peace

In the presence of Greek President Karolos
Papoulias; the President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, Minos X. Kyriakou;
and the President of the Organising Committee for the Beijing 2008 Olympic
Games, Liu Qi; IOC President Jacques Rogge underlined “that the 2008 Olympic
Torch Relay wants to be a journey of harmony, bringing the message of peace to
people of different nationalities, cultures and creeds.”

Tribute to the firemen

Before the torch lighting ceremony,
President Rogge also took the opportunity to pay tribute to the firemen who took
part in the heroic fight to save Olympia from the flames last
autumn.

Following the tragic fires that raged in
Greece, the IOC President wrote to the Greek Prime Minister to
offer the condolences of the Ol0mpic Movement, and express its gratitude to and
admiration for the fire-fighters and volunteers who risked their lives to save
others. He sent his thanks in particular to those who saved Olympia, the
birthplace of the Olympic Games, the site where the heart of Baron Pierre de
Coubertin rests, and the headquarters of the International Olympic Academy. The
IOC President wrote “it is a great tragedy which has struck Greece and its
people, and I should like to express our deepest sympathy with all those who
have been affected. Although it is of secondary importance faced with the loss
of human life, I should also like to express our gratitude to all those who took
part in this heroic fight to save Olympia.”