First-ever Youth Olympic flame lit in ancient Olympia

Ancient Olympia, Greece, Friday, July 23, 2010 — The Youth Olympic flame was lit for the first time today in Ancient Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, signalling the start of a round-the-world journey, and a prelude to the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games.

Held at the Temple of Hera, the Youth Olympic flame was lit by reflecting sunlight using a parabolic mirror and carried by the High Priestess to the Ancient Stadium for the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games.

At the Ancient Stadium, the Flame was then passed on to four youth torch bearers: Apostolos Koutavas (Greece), Amanda Lim Xiang Qi (Singapore), Silas Abdul Razak (Singapore) and Nikos Tsiokos (Greece).

The ceremony in Ancient Olympia kicks-off the 13-day Journey of the Youth Olympic flame to celebration cities representing five continents around the world. It then arrives in Singapore on August 6th for a traditional six-day torch relay around the island nation. The five cities are:

1. Berlin, Germany representing Europe
2. Dakar, Senegal representing Africa
3. Mexico City, Mexico representing the Americas
4. Auckland, New Zealand representing Oceania
5. Seoul, South Korea representing Asia

At each of the celebration cities, the Olympic flame will journey to significant city landmarks and allow as many people as possible to welcome the Flame to the continent. The day will end off with a City Celebration, where the people of the city and continent can join in the festivities to celebrate the world’s first Youth Olympic Games.

The flame’s journey will culminate in the torch being brought to the Float@Marina Bay in Singapore, on August 14th, where it will ignite the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games cauldron as part of the opening ceremony, signifying the start of the Games. Once lit, the flame will continue to burn throughout the 12 days of the Games until the closing ceremony on August 26th, 2010.