Greece hosts Olympic torch lighting ceremonyMay 10, 2012 - 13:19 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A ceremony is under way in Olympia, Greece, to light the Olympic flame ahead of the start of the torch relay and the London 2012 Games, BBC reported. The flame is kindled by a "high priestess" who captures the morning sun's rays in a parabolic mirror. The ceremony comes amid political and economic turmoil in the home of the Ancient Olympics, where a week-long leg of the relay will be held. The flame flies to Britain on 18 May for a 70-day relay around the UK. Locog Chairman Lord Coe, International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge and Hellenic Olympic Committee president Spyros Capralos are in Olympia for the moment marking the countdown to London 2012. The lighting ceremony takes place in front of the ruins of the Temple of Hera. The flame - an Olympic symbol meant to represent purity because it comes from the sun - is placed in an urn and taken to the stadium where the ancient Olympic Games were staged. There, it will light the London 2012 torch of Liverpool-born Greek world champion 10km swimmer Spyros Gianniotis, who will carry it on the first leg of the relay around Greece. Top stories Armenian gymnast, Olympic bronze medalist Artur Davtyan has reached the finals of the World Cup. Gor Manvelyan has denied reports alleging that he has expressed a desire to one day play for the French national team. Roma midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is not considering FC Spartak Moscow as his next haven, according to fresh reports. 10 Armenian lifters will compete in the 2021 World Championships scheduled to be held from 7 to 17 December in Tashkent. Partner news | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |