A Greek High Priestess lit up the Flame of Hope for the 12th World Special Olympics in Shanghai on the Olympic cauldron at the Sacred Site of Pnyka near Acropolis in Athens on Friday June 29, 2007.

 

A Greek High Priestess lit up the Flame of Hope for the 12th World Special Olympics in Shanghai on the Olympic cauldron at the Sacred Site of Pnyka near Acropolis in Athens on Friday.

 

Vice Mayor of Shanghai and Executive Vice Chairman of the organising committee of the Shanghai 2007 Special Olympics Games Zhou Taitong (R) receives the Olympic torch from a Greek high priestess during a lighting ceremony at the hill of Pnyx in Athens June 29, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

 

The High Priestess, who is also a Special Olympics athlete and will attend the Shanghai Special Olympics Games, passed the lighting Torch to the vice mayor of Shanghai Zhou Taitong.

 

Then the Law Enforcement Torch Run then began. It started from Pnyka, passing by Herod Atticus Odeon, Temple of Olympius Zeus, The Monument of the Unknown Soldiers, Marble Panathinakikon stadium and then arrived at the Chinese Embassy.

 

At the lighting ceremony, Joanna, President of Special Olympics Hellas, said that 2,500 years ago, an ancient Greek disabled person once said that "I know I can". The Special Olympics is a gathering of beauty, friendship and strength and it shows respect to human dignity.

 

Zhou Taitong said that equality, acceptance and tolerance are the spirit of Secial Olympics. He said the Torch relay will run through five continents and then go to China.

 

"Let's witness the great moment of the lighting ceremony of the Flame of Hope which is the symbol of civilizations of human beings," said Zhou.

 

Timothy Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics International, said that the lighting ceremony here reflected great convergence of East and West civilization. "Let's celebrate the beauty of this moment," he said.

 

The Mayor of Athens Mr. Nikitas Kaklamanis presented the Medal of the City to Mr. Zhou Taitong and Dr. Timothy Shriver, the Chairman of Special Olympics International.

 

Around one thousand people attended the lighting ceremony and the law enforcement Torch relay in Athens on Friday.

 

(Xinhua News Agency June 30, 2007)