Olympic Flame

Today, the Olympic Flame, which was lit in Ancient Olympia on Monday, came through Athens to be handed over to the Beijing Olympic Committee. The ceremony was held in the Panathenaic Olympic Stadium which was built and used for the first modern Olympics in 1896.

As we walked from the metro to the stadium the torch was actually carried by Syntagma Square, the main square in downtown Athens.

The stadium is just on the other side of the National Gardens so it was a nice walk through the flowers and trees. We appreciated the shade since the sun is already making the days hot when you are walking around.

As part of the ceremony the priestesses brought in the official Torch which would be lit and handed from the Greek President to the President of the Beijing Olympic Committee.

The Presidential Guard, band and choir were all part of the ceremony.

One of the silver medalists from the 2004 Olympics lit the altar in the center of the stadium.

After the big flame was lit and a few speeches, the Beijing torch was lit and handed over.

They put the flame into a silver case and carried it out to a van to be flown to China.

Miki and I actually ran into one of the torch bearers and got to take pictures with one of the actual torches that was carried in the relay.

There is a nice view of the Parthanon from the stadium standing between the olympic and Greek flags.