London 2012: Olympic torch begins its journey after being lit in Olympia, Greece

Greek actress Ino Menegaki, playing the role of High Priestess, lights a torch from the sun's rays reflected in a parabolic mirror during the torch lighting ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the site of ancient Olympia in Greece

The High Priestess holds up the lit Olympic torch at the Temple of Hera

The Olympic flame is held aloft by the High Priestess

The high priestess passes on the Olympic flame to a priestess holding a cauldron


The High Priestess holds up the cauldron with the Olympic flame


Ceremonial: Female performers completed the ancient Olympian routine without a hitch in front of impressed Games officials today

Countdown starts here: Greek actress Ino Menegaki, playing the role of High Priestess, carries a cauldron with the Olympic flame during the torch lighting ceremony.

The flame is passed to Spyros Gianniotis who holds up the Olympic torch and an olive branch as he stands under a Union flag

Spyros Gianniotis, Greek world champion swimmer and first torch bearer, runs in the ancient stadium of Olympia

Spyros Gianniotis, Greece's British-born world champion 10km swimming champion, lights the torch held by Alexander Loukos, British boxer of Greek descent

Alexander Loukos, British boxer of Greek descent, poses with the Olympic torch before running during the Olympic torch relay

Alexander Loukos waves as he runs with the Olympic flame during the Olympic torch relay at the site of ancient Olympia

Actresses playing the role of priestesses take part in the torch lighting ceremony


Elaborate: Dancers perform the synchronised routine as the traditional ceremony continues in ancient Olympia

Practice makes perfect: The ceremony in Greece had been extensively rehearsed yesterday and went off without any flaws today as Olympic officials looked on


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