Full coverage: The lighting ceremony in Olympia, Greece

WATCH VIDEO

Source: BOCOG | 03-24-2008 20:51

Video: Relive the ceremony - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

High Priestess, actress Maria Nafpliotou, kindles a torch  held by Alexandros Nikolaidis, Greece's Olympic silver  medallist for taekwondo.

Date/Time: local time 11:00 a.m. (GMT +2), Monday, March 24, 2008

Venue: Olympia, Greece

The Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame for the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games will begin at local time 11:00 a.m. (GMT +2), March 24 in Olympia, Greece.

There's a strong presence of media, about 400, and most are from China.

A wide shot now of the overall area. A relatively simple ceremony with great significance. That's the parabolic mirror that will be collecting the sun's rays to light the flame.

The Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic  Flame for the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic  Games will begin at local time 11:00 a.m.  (GMT +2), March 24 in Olympia, Greece.  The weather is good for the torch lighting  ceremony.

High priestess and priestesses will enter with the Olympic Flame followed by the handing over of the flame to first torchbearer to begin the second part of the ceremony.

Scene of the lighting ceremony

We'll see and hear the raising of the Olympic flag followed by the raising of the Greek and Chinese national flags, with the appropriate music.

The host, "The lighting ceremony for the Games of the 29th Olympiad; the hoisting of the Olympic flag."

The lighting ceremony for torch of the Games of the 29th Olympiad begins.

The host, "National Anthem of China; Hoisting of the Chinese Flag."

The host, "National Anthem of Greece: Hoisting of the Greek Flag."

The Mayor of Ancient Olympia, Mr. George Aidonis, gives a speech.

The President of the International Olympic Committee, Mr. Jacques Rogge gives a speech.

Mr. Jacques Rogge wishes the torch relay great success and thanked BOCOG for all its efforts in preparing for the Beijing Olympics.

Hellenic Olympic Committee President Minos Kyriakou gives an address.

He expressed hope that the Flame of the 2008 Olympic Games will spread the Olympic spirit and shine its light on the Beijing Games. He also wished the Games of the 29th Olympiad success.

BOCOG President Liu Qi gives an address.

Liu says that the torch will transmit peace, friendship and hopes and dreams to the people of China and all over the world. Its flame will light up the sky during the Beijing Olympic Games. He expresses hope that the Olympic Flame would light the way to peace, friendship and progress.

The HOC President Minos Kyriakou passes the commemorative pot to BOCOG President Liu Qi.

Now the officials and VIP will proceed to the Temple of Hera. Numerous relics, including a statue of Nike, the Temple of Hera and Hermes of Praxiteles, are located in the sanctuary of Olympia.

Now the priestesses are arriving for the lighting of the flame.

One of the top actresses in Greece, Maria Nafpliotou, has one of the key roles in the ceremony as High Priestess.

The sun's rays and sunshine are an active part of the ceremony. Six priests will perform a dance choreographed especially for this ceremony.