ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece (AP) — Greek officials have conducted a full dress rehearsal for the lighting of the Olympic flame that will burn at the inaugural Youth Olympics in Singapore next month.
Standing in front of the 2,600-year-old Temple of Hera, an actress dressed as an ancient priestess used a concave mirror to light a silver torch with the sun’s rays Thursday.
Hundreds of tourists visiting the site where the Ancient Olympics were held from 776 B.C. to 393 A.D. stood in the intense heat to witness the ceremony.
The actual lighting ceremony, to be attended by International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge, will take place Friday. If clouds disrupt the lighting of the torch, Thursday’s flame will serve as backup.
The Youth Olympics will be held from Aug. 16-26.
