Shanghai Daily news

The Flame of Hope of the 2007 Special Olympic Summer Games was lit in Athens yesterday. It was the first time China had gathered the holy flame in the birthplace of the Olympics, Shanghai Daily reported.

The ceremony began at 4pm Beijing time on the Pynx of the Acropolis. A Greek "high priestess," played by Special Olympic athlete Maria Kotti, gathered the tinder at 5:18pm Beijing time, and lit the torch.

She then handled the torch to Zhou Taitong, vice mayor of Shanghai. Zhou, in turn, gave the torch to Chinese policeman Lu Yingjie who raised it with one Chinese and one Greek Special Olympic athlete.

Zhou said that equality, acceptance and tolerance are the common wishes of Special Olympic athletes and all people.

He expressed gratitude to the warm-hearted Greek people, the Chinese Embassy in Greece and officials with the Special Olympics International, on behalf of Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng.

The Games' Law Enforcement Torch Run then began at 5:30pm, from the Acropolis.

The flame will reach Beijing on September 26, and arrive in host city Shanghai on September 29.

The Games have attracted more than 10,000 athletes and coaches from about 160 countries and regions.