(ATR) Perfect weather Wednesday for the last rehearsal of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic flame-lighting ceremony at the Temple of Hera in Ancient Olympia.
High priestess Maria Nafpliotou took just over two minutes to light the flame using the midday sun and a parabolic mirror. The procession continued into the ancient stadium where the first torch will be lit for the first time in Winter Games history. Only previous Summer Games had the honor.
The actual ritual is expected to take 25 minutes. The first torchbearer, skier Vassilis Dimitriadis, will run an estimated 400 metres to begin a 700-person, 2,180 kilometre journey around Greece that ends Oct. 29 in the Panathenian Stadium in Athens.
“To see the emotions in everyone around us today, to feel the energy, to look at that flame, the message, the power behind that flame,” said VANOC torch relay program director Jim Richards.
“I can’t wait to see the Greek nation get behind this relay and a week later for us to go to Canada and feel that same power and energy.”
“Tomorrow is going to be a really special day for us,” said VANOC executive vice-president Terry Wright. “Ten years plus-now of work that tomorrow begins the countdown and 117 days later the flame gets lit in Vancouver in the cauldron and 17 days later the show is on the road.”
Among the speakers scheduled for the 25-minute prelude on Thursday are Olympia mayor Georgios Aidonis, Olympic Torch Relay Commission president Spyros Zannias, IOC president Jacques Rogge, Hellenic Olympic Committee president Spyros Capralos and VANOC CEO John Furlong. Capralos will present a commemorative pot from the ceremony to Furlong.
With reporting from Bob Mackin in Vancouver.
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