The Olympic flame is on its way to London after being lit today.
The flame was ignited, at 10am BST, by the High Priestess, Ino Menegaki, using a mirror to deflect the sun’s rays at the Temple of Hera in Ancient Olympia.
The iconic torch will now travel to London, carried by 8,000 people once it reaches UK shores.
Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, said: "The lighting of the Olympic flame in ancient Olympia is always a moment of great significance for the Olympic Movement."
Sebastian Coe, chairman of Olympic organising committee LOCOG, said: "The Olympic flame lit today in Olympia will connect the ancient Games and the modern Games.
"Cities, towns and villages across Greece and Britain will be connected together and to the London 2012 Olympic games forever."
Minister for Sport and the Olympics, Hugh Robertson, said the flame being lit was a "significant moment" in the build up to the event, which gets underway on July 27.
"Lit in a ceremony steeped in tradition, it is exciting to think that in just eight days the Olympic flame will arrive on our shores for a Torch Relay that I hope the whole country will embrace," he said.
The Olympic flame will travel to the UK from Athens on May 18 ahead of the start of the Olympic Torch Relay the following day.
Olympic news and information
Click here for Olympic news and information
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here