The flame for the Beijing 2008 Summer Games was lit in ancient Olympia Monday, but although security was heavy, a few demonstrators tried to break a tight police cordon.
In a globally televised ceremony to mark the start of the five-month torch relay, actress Maria Nafpilotou, playing the role of a high priestess, held up the torch and with the help of the sun’s rays lit the Olympic flame in front of the Temple of Hera.
One of the protesters unfurled a banner and approached Beijing Games head Liu Qi during his speech in front of hundreds of officials, but was taken away before reaching him. Police said the demonstrator was a 48-year-old Tibetan.
In his speech Liu said, “the Olympic flame will radiate light and happiness, peace and friendship, and hope and dreams to the people of China and the whole world”.
After the torch was lit it was handed to the first torchbearer, Greek Olympic takewondo silver medallist Alexandros Nikolaidis, who began a six-day Greek relay before the flame is handed over to the Chinese on March 30.
International Olympic Committee President (IOC) Jacques Rogge said in a speech inside the ancient stadium, “I express here the hope that the symbol of the torch will be recognized by everybody and that the right circumstances can be created, wherever the torch travels, for it to resonate”.
The relay tour begins in China April 1 and will cover 137,000 kilometres over 130 days before arriving at the National Stadium in Beijing on August 8 for the Opening Ceremony.
