The flame for the second Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer (NOR) was lit on 1stDecember in the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens (GRE). This marks the start of the Torch Relay which will travel across all of Norway, visiting all 19 provinces in a celebration of youth sports.
Following Olympic tradition, the Youth Olympic flame was lit by the sun’s rays reflected in a parabolic mirror, with a priestess from the Temple of Hera passing on the torch to the first relay runner in Athens’ ancient stadium – the home of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. Four young athletes from Norway and Greece started the Torch Relay in the iconic stadium, before the Youth Olympic flame was transported to Norway where it will travel across the whole nation.
“The lighting of the Youth Olympic flame is a major milestone for Lillehammer 2016. We’re getting so near the Games that we literally can feel the heat of it, and, with this flame being lit, we are ready to welcome the world to Norway,” said Tomas Holmestad, CEO of Lillehammer 2016 at the ceremony.
Source: fis-ski.com
