10 June, 2011
 The lighting ceremony for the Special Olympics World Summer Games ATHENS 2011 was held at the archeological site of Pnyx Hill west of the Acropolis yesterday.
At the place where the Assembly of Athenians held its meetings, in ancient times, Greek Special Olympics athlete Iliana Simeonidou in the role of High Priestess lit the flame out of a concave mirror using the sun's rays.
Following the ritual of the lighting ceremony traditionally held at Olympia, the High Priestess lit the torch with the Flame of Hope and handed it over to the President of the Organizing Committee Special Olympics Athens 2011, Joanna Despotopoulou.
The latter passed it on to the first torchbearers, George Papadopoulos and Georgia Yerakari, kicking off a torch relay that will travel across Greece and abroad before returning to Athens for the opening ceremony on June 25 at Panathenaic Stadium. The Athens 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games kick off on June 25 and will last until July 4.
Greek News Agenda: Special Issue – Special Olympics Athens 2011 Source: GREEK NEWS AGENDA issued by the Secretariat Genera
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