The Olympic flame left Athens Wednesday on the first leg of an unprecedented six-continent trek to 26 countries before it returns to Athens on August 13.
The flame left aboard a jumbo jet named Zeus, painted with the Athens 2004 and International Torch Relay colours and emblems. It is to arrive in Sydney at six a.m. Friday (local time).
Each of the 27 countries with the exception of the United States was represented by a diplomat at the ceremony.
The Olympic flame will for the first time visit South America and Africa on its 35-day journey to 33 cities in 27 countries.
Police armed with rifles stood guard as Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki promised “as this torch travels around the world, the people of Greece will continue their hard work” to prepare for the Athens Games.
Throughout the trip the Olympic Flame will be kept in special lanterns made of iron, steel and glass. The lanterns are 35 cm tall and weigh about 1,902 gr. Five protective steel bars surround the glass.
The wick is specially designed (non-smoke-emitting and slow burning) and is kept moist internally by a mechanism which also ensures constant fuel flow. The lantern may be safely refuelled which the wick is burning.
A second aircraft of the same type, white in colour and without any insignia, named Hera, is transporting the personnel responsible for supporting the trek.
The first runner to carry the torch outside Greece will be reigning 400-metre champion Cathy Freeman, an Australian who lit the Olympic flame at the Sydney opening ceremony.
