In the shadow of the ancient Acropolis, on top of the sacred hill of Pynx, the symbolic flame which will burn throughout the Special Olympics in Dublin was lit yesterday. The ceremony marked the official countdown to the games, the biggest athletics event in the world this year, with the opening ceremony in Croke Park in 16 days.
A group of torch-runners from police forces across the world, including the Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland, carried the flame through the streets of Athens yesterday on a journey which will take them through 15 European capital cities before arriving in Ireland.
At the lighting of the flame, the president of Special Olympics International, Dr Timothy P. Shriver, said the event was not a tribute to "charity, pity or generosity", but was a tribute to the unique talents of people with learning disabilities.
Yesterday's event was rich in history and symbolism, with the hill of Pynx reputed to be where Greek philosophers once lit a flame to mark the abilities of all athletes. Special Olympics athletes, in traditional Greek dress, performed the torch-lighting ceremony before an audience of dignitaries, including the president of Greece, Mr Konstantinos Stefanopoulos, the first lady of Egypt, Ms Suzanne Mubarak, the Minister for Arts, Tourism and Sport, Mr O'Donoghue, the head of the games organising committee, Mr Denis O'Brien, and ambassadors of countries participating in the games.
The "Flame of Hope" will arrive on Friday June 13th in Northern Ireland aboard the HMS Bangor. From there, torch runners from the Garda and PSNI will parade the flame to more than 130 towns and villages across Ireland.
In Croke Park, it will be handed to a Special Olympics athlete, who will light a gas cauldron which will burn for the duration of the games.