1.
GV OLYMPIC FLAG
0.05

2.
SV ATHLETICS WAITING FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THE KING
0.11

3.
GV ARRIVAL OF KING CONSTANTINE OF GREECE
0.17

4.
MV KING SALUTES FLAGS
0.25

5.
SCV CAMERAMEN
0.27

6.
GV KING LAYS WREATH
0.38

7.
CV WREATH
0.40

8.
GV JAPANESE OLYMPIC DELEGATE MAKES SPEECH
0.46

9.
GV OLYMPIC FLAGS
0.51

10.
GV OLYMPIC TORCH UNLIT IS CARRIED TO PLACE WHERE TORCH IS TO BE LIT (2 SHOTS)
1.05

11.
SV TORCH IS LIT
1.19

12.
GV CROWDS
1.22

13.
SV OLYMPIC TORCH IS HELD UP BY WOMAN
1.27

14.
GV OLYMPIC FLAGS
1.29

15.
SV TORCH IS HANDED TO THE KING WHO THEN HANDS IT TO OLYMPIC RUNNER
1.45

16.
GV OLYMPIC FLAGS
1.47

17.
SV OLYMPIC RUNNER WITH TORCH SETS OFF
1.53



Initials PC/S/CR/EEH DE/S/CR/EEH


EDITORS: SEE ALSO PROD 7789/64 (REHEARSAL OF RE-KINDLING OF THE FLAME) SERVICED TODAY.

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE OLYMPIC TORCH WAS RE-KINDLED AT MOUNT OLYMPUS IN GREECE TODAY (FRIDAY) AND BEGAN ITS JOURNEY TO TOKYO FOR THE 1964 OLYMPIC GAMES IN OCTOBER.

BEFORE THE CEREMONY BEGAN KING CONSTANTINE OF GREECE LAID A WREATH AT ANCIENT OLYMPIA ON THE STELE (UPRIGHT SLAB) CONTAINING THE HEART OF BARON PIERRE COUBERTIN OF FRANCE - THE MAN WHO CAUSED THE OLYMPIC GAMES TO BE REVIVED IN ATHENS IN 1896.

AT THE SITE OF THE ANCIENT STADIUM THE CEREMONY WAS PERFORMED BY GREEK ACTRESS ALECA KATSELIS, DRESSED AS A HIGH PRIESTESS, AND SIXTEEN YOUNG ATTENDANTS, IN THE PRESENCE OF KING CONSTANTINE -- HIMSELF AN OLYMPIC YACHTING GOLD MEDALLIST.

AN OLIVE BRANCH WAS KINDLED FROM THE RAYS OF A POWERFUL CONCAVE MIRROR REFLECTING THE RAYS OF THE SUN. THEN THE FLAME WAS TRANSFERRED TO AN EARTHENWARE BOWL ACCOMPANIED BY THE CHANTING OF HYMNS TO ZEUS, FATHER OF THE GODS, THANKING HIM FOR SENDING HIS LIGHT DOWN TO EARTH.

THE BOWL WAS THEN CARRIED BY THE HIGH PRIESTESS THROUGH THE RUING OF THE ANCIENT TEMPLE OF HERA, WIFE OF ZEUS, TO THE ORIGINAL OLYMPIC STADIUM.

A TORCH KINDLED FROM THE FLAME IN THE BOWL WAS HANDED TO TH FIRST OF THE RUNNERS -- THE GREEK SPRINTER MARCELLOS -- BY KING CONSTANTINE.

THEN BEGAN THE RELAY RUN TO ATHENS, EXPECTED TO TAKE 36 HOURS, WITH SOME 340 ATHLETES TAKING PART. KING CONSTANTINE WILL BE IN THE OLYMPIC STADIUM IN THE CITY WHEN THE TORCH ARRIVES. HE WILL RECEIVE THE TORCH FROM THE RUNNER AND HAND IT TO ANOTHER WHO WILL TAKE IT TO ATHENS AIRPORT FOR DISPATCH BY SPECIAL JAPANESE AIRLINER TO TOKYO.

THE SACRED FLAME WILL BE KEPT BURNING AT THE OLYMPIC STADIUM IN TOKYO FOR THE WHOLE PERIOD OF THE GAMES.