The flame goes globe-trotting

The Olympic flame, kindled by 'pagan priestesses' in Ancient Olympia, will begin its journey around the world this week in what organisers proudly claim as the first truly international Olympic Torch Relay.

They have a point. For the first time, the Olympic flame will visit Africa and South America. It will be a unique journey around the world lasting 35 days, covering all five continents and a distance of about 78,000km, 1,500km of which will be in the hands of 3,600 torchbearers.

Ever since Prometheus gave mankind the fire he had stolen from under Zeus's nose, a flame has been a sacred symbol for human beings. In classical Greece a flame symbolised the creation of the world, renewal and light - and this burning symbol has been used in recent times by Olympic organisers as an emblem for peace.

Ironically, the custom of carrying a burning torch from Greece to the site of the Games as a peace symbol was first introduced during the 1936 Berlin Olympics - by Adolf Hitler, a master propagandist.

Today, the propaganda continues, on a bigger and more commercial scale, although Olympic officials would never admit that the torch run is nothing more than a huge advertising and marketing campaign for the world's biggest sporting event.

The flame was kindled by the high priestess at Ancient Olympia on March 25 in an age-old ceremony where a concave mirror focused the rays of the sun at a focal point. A torch was laid on this point, and it caught fire.