First Youth Olympic Flame Lit

Using the sun's rays and a parabolic mirror, a holy priestess lit the flame before entering the stadium, and passed the torch to the first torch bearer, Apostolos Koutavas, who will represent Greece in trampoline at the Youth Games.

During the 22 days leading up to the Games, about 2,400 torch bearers will take the flame to all five continents, and will arrive in Berlin on July 24 before continuing on to Dakar on July 26, Mexico City July 30, Auckland August 1 and Seoul August 4. A six-day torch relay beginning August 5 is planned for the final destination, Singapore, where the Youth Olympic Games will be held August 14-26.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge, said, "it is a proud and special moment to have witnessed the Youth Olympic Flame being lit for the first time. It is our hope that young people around the world will feel the spirit of the Youth Olympic Games, symbolized in the Journey of the Flame and embrace its message of friendship and respect".

Singapore 2010 Chairman Ser Miang Ng said, "it is such an honour to witness the birth of a new initiative for the youth. Although the Flame Lighting Ceremony dates back more than two thousand years, the Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect that the Flame reports are still relevant today. We hope that the journey of the Youth Olympic Flame will connect youth around the world to the Olympic movement, and inspire them to live by its values. And we look forward to welcoming the world to Singapore in August for the first Youth Olympic Games".

At each of the celebration cities the Flame will travel to significant city landmarks and allow as many people as possible to welcome the Flame to the continent. The day will end with a City Celebration.

The journey will end with the torch being brought to the Float@Marina Bay in Singapore, the world's largest floating stage, on August 14 where it will ignite the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games cauldron as part of the Opening Ceremony. The Flame will continue to burn throughout the 12 days of the Games until the Closing Ceremony August 26, 2010.