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Welcome, 77 artists, 40 different points of Attica welcomes you by singing Erotokritos an epic romance written at 1713 by Vitsentzos Kornaros

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Ovechkin Carries Sochi Torch for Russia

ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece (AP) ? Using the sun's rays, the Olympic flame lighting for the Winter Games in Sochi went off without a hitch in southern Greece on Sept. 29, ahead of its journey across Russia's nine time zones and even a trip to space before the Feb. 7-23 games. The ceremony was held with actresses dressed as ancient priestesses at the birthplace of the Greek games held in antiquity, with the flame lighting using a parabolic mirror. Actress Ino Menegaki, in the role of high priestess, called out to the ancient god of the sun, Apollo, before the flame was lit and passed to 18-year-old Greek alpine skier Ioannis Antoniou. NHL star Alex Ovechkin was the first Russian involved in the torch relay.Newly-elected International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach was present at the 20-minute ancient re-enactment, involving 21 priestesses dressed in cream-colored pleated dresses.

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