Olympic flame lit in Olympic birthplace

　　(ATHENS, March 24) -- The Torch for the 2008 Olympic Games has been lit successfully in Ancient Olympia, Greece.

　　The Olympic Anthem, the National Anthem of China, and the National Anthem of Greece were played during the Torch Lighting Ceremony. As well, the Olympic flag, the Chinese flag, and the Greek flag were hoisted for all the world to see.

　　Aidonis said the Torch has drawn the curtains of the Beijing Olympic Games. The sacred flame serves as a bridge connecting the friendship of the ancient Chinese and Greek cultures.

　　"Today will lead to the opening of the first ever Olympic Games in China, where one fifth of the world's population is longing for them," said Rogge.

　　"By crossing five continents and visiting 21 cities throughout the world, and more than 100 cities in mainland China, the 2008 Olympic Torch Relay prepares the way to Beijing.

　　"The messengers will be citizens, young or old, able or disabled, athletes and members of the Olympic Movement, who are all eager to promote what each one of us can contribute to a better world."

　　Among the dignitaries present were Greek president Karolos Papoulias, Greek prime minister Kostas Karamanlis, and former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch.

　　"Let me first express our heartfelt gratitude to their excellencies the President and Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic for their presence at the ceremony, which fully demonstrates the friendly sentiments of the Greek Government and people towards the Chinese people," said Liu Qi.

　　"China and Greece, standing as ancient civilizations with long histories, have made outstanding contributions to human progress."

　　"Today, the Olympic flame, representing the transcendent human spirit, will be lit once again. Burning in the torch of the Beijing Olympic Games, the flame will travel over mountains and seas across the globe, our common homeland."

　　"The Olympic flame will radiate light and happiness, peace and friendship, and hope and dreams to the people of China and the whole world. Its rays will light up the starry skies during the Beijing Olympic Games," Liu continued.

　　HOC President Minos Kyriakou said that the Lighting Ceremony was meaningful. He added that the ceremony belongs to a country that has a population of 1.3 billion and several thousand years of history.

　　High Priestess Maria Nafpliotou lit the flame out of a concave, burnished steel mirror. The flame was then transported in a replica of an ancient urn to the historic stadium where it kindled the Olympic torch.

　　On Monday morning, Liu Qi and Greek president Karolos Papoulias witnessed the launching ceremony of a new municipal building in Olympia.

　　Accompanying Liu were BOCOG officials including Wang Wei and Jiang Xiaoyu, as well as the Chinese ambassador to Greece, Luo Linquan.