PyeongChang 2018 Olympic flame starts journey

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The flame for next year's Winter Olympic Games to be held in South Korea was lit and the torch relay began its journey on Tuesday at the ancient Olympics birthplace Olympia in western Greece.

But rain forced some changes to the ritual flame-lighting ceremony.

Greek actress Katerina Lehou, in the role of a high priestess, did not use a concave mirror to ignite the torch with the sun's rays, as per tradition.

Greek actress Katerina Lehou, playing the role of High Priestess with the flame during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony. /Reuters Photo

Instead, she lit the torch at 12:33 a.m. local time from a replica of an ancient urn where the sacred flame was kept.

Greek organizers brushed aside the changes, saying the sacred light will still carry the best wishes of the Greek people and the Olympic movement to the South Korean host city of PyeongChang for a successful Games.

The last time the urn was used in the official lighting ceremony was in 2000 for the flame for the Sydney Summer Olympics.

Greek actress Katerina Lehou holds the flame during the flame-lighting ceremony for the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. /Reuters Photo‍

Following a dance performance by dozens of artists on the slope of the ancient stadium which hosted the first Games 25 centuries ago, the high priestess passed the torch to the first torchbearer, Greek cross-country skier Apostolos Angelis, along with an olive branch.

Another dancer released a white pigeon to spread the Olympic ideals of friendship and peace to the world.

Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos, South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach, President of the Organizing Committee of the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games Lee Hee-beom were among those at the ceremony.

"From here, the cradle of the Olympic spirit and values, we send to the entire world the message of peace and democracy, the message of peaceful cooperation," Pavlopoulos told journalists after the ceremony.

Greek actress Katerina Lehou passes the flame to Greek cross country skiing athlete Apostolos Aggelis. /Reuters Photo

"It was a great start for the Olympic Winter Games of 2018 in PyeongChang... With these Games we will carry the Olympic Games into a bright future," Bach said.

The poor weather conditions did not affect the enthusiasm of the cheering crowd of locals and foreign visitors.

Despite the rain, schoolchildren from local schools in colorful uniforms formed the five Olympic circles and the Olympic anthem, the national anthem of South Korea and the national anthem of Greece were performed by youth choirs.

Performers form the Olympic rings during the flame-lighting ceremony for the 2018 Winter Olympics. /Reuters Photo

Following the hoisting of the Olympic flag, the Games host country's flag and the Greek flag, the Mayor of Ancient Olympia Efthymios Kotzas addressed the event.

"From these sacred grounds of Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, at the time of the relay of the Olympic Flame, I address the whole world with the message of hope, optimism and solidarity," he said.

President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee Spyros Capralos said, "The flame showcases the role of sport and Olympism which contribute to the creation of a better world through initiatives promoting dialogue, mutual understanding and solidarity."

Greek cross-country skiier Apostolos Aggelis passes the torch to former South Korea footballer Park Ji-sung. /Reuters Photo

Both the Greek hosts and Bach wished great success to the PyeongChang Games.

"Our founder, Pierre de Coubertin, once said that the Olympic Games are a pilgrimage to the past and an act of faith in the future," Bach said.

Veteran football player Park Ji-sung was the first South Korean torchbearer to receive the torch for the Feb. 9-25 Games.

Spectators with South Korea flags during the Olympic flame-lighting ceremony for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics. /Reuters Photo

"It is a great honor for me to represent my country and be the first runner from South Korea... I am very excited to watch the Olympics," he told Xinhua after the event.

The first leg of the torch relay across Greece will end next week in Athens. The flame will be delivered on October 31 to South Korean organizers in a handover ceremony at the marble Panathenaic Stadium, site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.

The second leg of the torch relay set to be South Korea will involve 7,500 torchbearers and 2,018 support runners on a 2,018-km journey to the PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 9.

Review the LIVE broadcast of the lighting ceremony:

Live: Flame on for 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics

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Source(s): Xinhua News Agency