Greece: Olympic Flame Lighting Ceremony for the Games Beijing 2008

(www.chinaview.cn)  The official Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Olympic Games Beijing 2008 video:  http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-03/24/content_7850470.htm       
OLYMPIA, Greece, March 24 (Xinhua)  The Beijing Olympic flame was ignited in a traditional sun-ray ceremony on 11:45 on Monday at the Hera Temple of Ancient Olympia.

Ancient Olympia is Ready for the Lighting of the Olympic Torch Ceremony

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) During a visit to ancient Olympia to inspect regeneration work carried out on the site on Monday, Culture Minister Mihalis Liapis said it is ready for the ceremony for the lighting of the Olympic Torch for the Beijing Games, on March 24. The site and especially the surrounding vegetation had suffered extensive damage during the fires that raged across the Peloponnese last August.  “We are ready to receive the Chinese delegation, to hand over the flame in a simple and solemn ceremony,” Liapis said. The area has been rejuvenated with more than 36,000 plants.  (ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΕΙ ΚΑΙ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΟ ΚΕΙΜΕΝΟ)

Olympic Games: ‘High priestess’ in Olympic Torch ceremony named

(ATHENS NEWS AGENCY) The Plenary Session of the Hellenic Olympic Committee on Wednesday decided unanimously that the High Priestess of the Lighting Ceremony for the XXIX Olympic Games “BEIJING 2008”, on the 24^th of March, will be the actress, Ms. Maria Nafpliotou. Maria Nafpliotou is the 10^th High Priestess in the history of the Olympic Flame and the 9^th in the history of summer Olympic Games. Also, the Plenary Session of the Hellenic Olympic Committee decided that Mrs. Artemis Ignatiou, will be the choreographer of the Lighting Ceremony in the place of Mrs. Maria Horss who retired, after 50 years of invaluable contribution.