The flame for the Olympic Games in Brazil has been lit in southern Greece. An actor performing the role of high priestess lit the torch by using the sun’s rays. The torch will be taken by various runners on an international relay that will culminate at the opening ceremony in Rio de Janeiro on 5 August. The ritual was established 80 years ago for the Berlin Games, based on a ceremony in Ancient Olympia where games were held for more than 1,000 years. Actor Katerina Lehou, who lit the torch, offered a mock prayer to Apollo, the old Greek god of light and music, at Thursday’s ceremony. Wearing a long pleated robe, she knelt solemnly to the ground and lit the torch within a few seconds by using a concave mirror to catch the sunlight. She then delivered the flame to Greek world gymnastics champion Eleftherios Petrounias, the first runner in a torch relay that will conclude at the opening ceremony in Rio’s Maracana Stadium. Before that it will begin a six-day relay across Greece, passing through the town of Marathon – which gave its name to the long distance race – as well as a camp for refugees and migrants in Athens, the International Olympic Committee has said. The flame is due to arrive in Brazil on 3 May for a 100-day relay across the country, travelling through 500 cities and villages in every Brazilian state. It will be carried by about 12,000 torch bearers.

Source: BBC

The Olympic torch is scheduled to be lit at Ancient Olympia in the Peloponnese, Thursday at 12 midday, in the presence of the President of the Hellenic Republic, Prokopis Pavlopoulos. The ceremony will see actress Katerina Lechou assume the role of high priestess, as a member of a female chorus performing a celebration at the Temple of Hera, and kindle the torch by the light of the sun in a parabolic mirror. She will then give the flame to the first torch bearer of the Rio 2016b Summer Games, Greek world gymnastics champion Lefteris Petrounias, who will in turn pass it on to Brazilian former-volleyball star Ziovani Gavio. 29 priestesses, 13 dancers and 4 female youths will be part of a ceremonial dance performance.