ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece (AP) — The final rehearsal for the lighting of the flames that will burn at the London Olympics has gone off without a hitch under bright sunny skies.
Standing in front of the 2,600-year Temple of Hera, an actress dressed as a high priestess used a concave mirror to focus the sun’s rays and light a torch.
That flame will serve as backup in the unlikely event that clouds hide the sun at Thursday’s official lighting ceremony. This has happened only once in recent memory for the Summer Olympics — in 2000, ahead of the late-season Sydney Games.
After an 1,800-mile journey through Greece, the flame will be handed to London organizers in Athens on May 17.
The Olympics will be held from July 27 to Aug. 12.
