Links - Lighting Ceremony Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics - North River Minor Hockey Association

Lighting Ceremony Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics Search FranaisLearn more about the Olympic MovementOlympic PhotosOlympic VideosOlympism in ActionOlympic Sports Olympic AthletesOlympic NewsFuture Olympic GamesPast Olympic games Vancouver 2010 OlympicsLondon 2012 OlympicsSochi 2014 OlympicsRio 2016 Olympics Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games Alpine Skiing Biathlon Bobsleigh CrossCountry Skiing Curling Figure Skating Freestyle Skiing Ice Hockey Luge Nordic Combined Short Track Speed Skating Skeleton Ski Jumping Snowboard Speed Skating Olympic Games Medals Results SportsOlympic Schedule Results and Events Medals Medallists Historical Medals Historical Medallists Vancouver 2010 Medals Geo View Athletes Geo View News Best of the Web Host Videos Podcast Olympic News RSS Feeds Olympic Photos Pictures and Images Olympic Videos Watch live coverage Olympic Tickets Prices Sales and Information Olympic Tickets How to Buy Tickets Ticket Prices International Ticket Sales Tickets FAQs The Olympic Store Watch Olympics Live Spectator Guide Venues Interactive Map Celebrations and Ceremonies Transportation Accommodation At the Games Travelling to Canada Accessibility Consumer Awareness Buy Real Essential Contacts Souvenirs Spectator Information FAQs Explore Vancouver and British Columbia More 2010 Information Paralympic Games Alpine Skiing Biathlon CrossCountry Skiing Ice Sledge Hockey Wheelchair Curling Schedule & Results Medals Athletes News Photos Videos Tickets Store Spectator Guide More 2010 Information The Lighting CeremonyAs the world turns its attention to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games the longest domestic Olympic Torch Relay in history begins on October 22 2009 with a traditional ritual lighting ceremony in Olympia Greece Olympia is the home of the Olympic Flame the sanctuary of Zeus (father of the gods of Olympia) and the site where the Ancient Olympic Games took place The lighting ceremony of the Olympic Flame takes place at the temple of Hera within the Olympia site where the ruins of a temple dedicated to this goddess remain The actual lighting ceremony is a reminder of ancient rituals in which gods Zeus and Hera were honoured with several fires lit and animal sacrifices in the sanctuary of Olympia First the Olympic Flame is lit by sunlight focused on a metal reflector the flame can only be lit this way and is a part of a ritual including a prayer and a hymn made by a woman representing the ancient role of the high priestess The ceremony also involves a young boy who cuts off an olive branch and gives it to the high priestess a symbolical gesture Maria Nafpliotou is playing the role of high priestess for the Lighting Ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay Nafpliotou was born and lives in Athens Shes a theatre television and film actress as well as a dancer Fluent in English Nafpliotou has also played the role of high pries...