The Olympic Anthem, the National Anthem of the People's Republic of China, the National Anthem of Greece were played and the Olympic Flag, the Chinese Flag and the Greek Flag were hoisted at the lighting ceremony.
Speeches were given by the mayor of ancient Olympia Georgios Aidonis, International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee Minos Kyriakou and Liu Qi, President of the Beijing Organizing Committee of Olympic Games (BOCOG).
"Today will lead to the opening of the first ever Olympic Games in China, where one fifth of the world's population is longing for them," said Rogge.
