ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece (Reuters) – British designers Jay Osgerby and Edward Barber spent 18 months developing a fail proof Olympic torch that could withstand snow, driving rain and gusty winds, only to see it ultimately likened to a cheese grater.

The duo say they were delighted with the nickname for their gold-coloured torch for the London Games.

ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece, May 11 (Reuters) – British
designers Jay Osgerby and Edward Barber spent 18 months
developing a failproof Olympic torch that could withstand snow,
driving rain and gusty winds, only to see it ultimately likened
to a cheese grater.

The duo say they were delighted with the nickname for their
gold-coloured torch for the London Games.

ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece (Reuters) – Aphrodite Tagios broke down in tears as cream-robed priestesses struck graceful poses on a grassy slope at the birthplace of the Olympics in a solemn ceremony that reminded her of her country’s glorious past and how far it has fallen since.

With debt-stricken Greece risking bankruptcy and an exit from the euro zone, many Greeks watched the Olympic torch-lighting ceremony in the ruins of ancient Olympia on Thursday with bittersweet pangs of pride mixed with sadness and anger.

ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece, May 10 (Reuters) – Aphrodite Tagios
broke down in tears as cream-robed priestesses struck graceful
poses on a grassy slope at the birthplace of the Olympics in a
solemn ceremony that reminded her of her country’s glorious past
and how far it has fallen since.

With debt-stricken Greece risking bankruptcy and an exit
from the euro zone, many Greeks watched the Olympic
torch-lighting ceremony in the ruins of ancient Olympia on
Thursday with bittersweet pangs of pride mixed with sadness and
anger.

ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece (Reuters) – The countdown to the London Olympics began with the kindling of the Games torch by the sun’s rays in ancient Olympia on Thursday, sparking a relay that will culminate with the lighting of the Olympic stadium’s cauldron at the opening ceremony on July 27.

On a warm and sunny day at the site of the ancient Olympics, actress Ino Menegaki, playing the high priestess, appealed to sun God Apollo and needed only a few seconds to ignite the torch at the ruins of the Temple of Hera with the help of a parabolic mirror, 78 days before the Games get under way.

ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece (Reuters) – The countdown to this summer’s London Olympics kicked off with the kindling of the Games torch by the sun’s rays in ancient Olympia on Thursday, sparking a relay that will culminate with the lighting of the Olympic stadium’s cauldron at the opening ceremony on July 27.

On a warm and sunny day at the site of the ancient Olympics, actress Ino Menegaki, playing the high priestess, needed only a few seconds to ignite the torch with the help of a parabolic mirror in this traditional ceremony less than 80 days before the Games get under way.

ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece, May 10 (Reuters) – The countdown to
this summer’s London Olympics kicked off with the kindling of
the Games torch by the sun’s rays in ancient Olympia on
Thursday, sparking a relay that will culminate with the lighting
of the Olympic stadium’s cauldron at the opening ceremony on
July 27.

On a warm and sunny day at the site of the ancient Olympics,
actress Ino Menegaki, playing the high priestess, needed only a
few seconds to ignite the torch with the help of a parabolic
mirror in this traditional ceremony less than 80 days before the
Games get under way.

ANCIENT OLYMPIA (Reuters) – Greece’s economic crisis will not upstage the lighting of the Olympic flame at the birthplace of the Games, London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe told Reuters on Wednesday.

The debt-stricken country – where the flame will be lit amid the ruins of Ancient Olympia on Thursday – risks bankruptcy and tumbling out of the euro zone.

ANCIENT OLYMPIA (Reuters) – Greece’s economic crisis will not upstage the lighting of the Olympic flame at the birthplace of the Games, London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe told Reuters on Wednesday.

The debt-stricken country – where the flame will be lit amid the ruins of Ancient Olympia on Thursday – risks bankruptcy and tumbling out of the euro zone.

ANCIENT OLYMPIA, May 9 (Reuters) – Greece’s economic crisis
will not upstage the lighting of the Olympic flame at the
birthplace of the Games, London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe told
Reuters on Wednesday.

The debt-stricken country – where the flame will be lit amid
the ruins of Ancient Olympia on Thursday – risks bankruptcy and
tumbling out of the euro zone.