OLYMPIA, Greece (UPI) -- The Olympic torch that will open the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada, was lit in a ceremony Thursday in Olympia, Greece.

Using a parabolic mirror and sunshine, high priestess Maria Napfliotou lit the flame at the Temple of Hera, igniting the torch that will be run through Greece until Oct. 29, the International Olympic Committee said in a release.

The torch will then be flown to Canada, where it will be relayed on the longest-ever run though all 10 provinces and three territories before arriving in Vancouver for the start of the games Feb 12.

The Canadian relay involving more than 12,000 torchbearers will cover almost 28,000 miles, the Vancouver Sun said.

The lighting ceremony was attended by several thousand people under heavy security at the ancient stadium where the games began some 2,700 years ago, the Sun said.




Copyright 2009 by United Press International

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