Liu Qi (L), president of the Organizing Committee of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, receives the torch of the Olympic flame from Minoa Kyriakou, president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, at the Panathenan Stadium in Athens yesterday. The handover ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games flame was held in Athens yesterday.- Xinhua

Minoa Kyriakou, president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, handed the Olympic flame over to Beijing Olympic chief Liu Qi at the Panathenan Stadium yesterday afternoon, after the six-day torch relay in Greece was wrapped up.

The flame is to arrive in Beijing today, to start a month-long "Journey of Harmony" across the world.

The handover ceremony started at 3 p.m., four banner men from China and Greece each carried the two countries' national flags into the Panathenian Stadium, where the first modern Olympic Gameswas staged in 1896.

The national anthems were performed by the Philharmonic Band of the City of Athens.

The priestesses, all wearing pleated white dresses and sandals, entered the stadium to practice ancient Greek rituals. Chrysopigi Devetzi, silver medalist of triple jump in the 2004 Games, was the last torchbearer of the Greek relay, running into the stadium holding the flame and lighted the altar.

"It's a great moment for us to transfer the Olympic flame to our Chinese friends in the wake of the Greece relay," said Kyriakou.

"Greece, with truthful good-fellowship, hands the flame over to China. The follow-up international relay will spread the message of peace, cooperation and mutual respect.

"The Greek leg of torch relay brought inspiration, passion and emotion to people. As a symbol of Olympic flame, respect, pride and sticking by cause and value are bound with it."

Following the IOC anthem, three flame guards from China stepped up taking a flame safety lantern and lighting stick.

The High Priestess Maria Nafpliotou kindled the torch from altar and passed it to HOC president Kyriakou, who handed it over to BOCOG president Liu Qi.

Liu preserved the flame in the lantern.

"I like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Greek people. Thank you for your elaborate arrangement for the Olympic flame lighting, thank you for the hard work ensuring the successful torch relay in Greece, and thank you for your unswerving support for the Beijing Olympic Games," said Liu.

"Tomorrow, the Olympic flame, brimming with friendship and good wishes of Greek people, is heading for Beijing. From its origin, the flame will reach the Great Wall," said Liu.

"Full of Olympic spirit, the flame is to traverse five continents to spread Chinese hospitality and friendship to the world.

"The Olympic spirit of peace, respect and friendship is set to be rooted in China. The ideal of Olympic movement will prevail as the flame reaches the summit of Mt. Qomolangma."

President of Greece Karolos Papoulias attended the ceremony.

The Panathenian Stadium, rebuilt around 300 BC, had hosted the athletic portion of the Panathenaic Games in honor of the Goddess Athena.

In the 2004 Olympic Games, the Panathinaiko Stadium hosted the archery competition and the finish of marathon.

A welcome ceremony will be held today at Tian'anmen Square, the heart of the 2008 Olympic host city.

The Beijing Olympic torch relay includes three parts - the relay outside the Chinese mainland, the one in the Chinese mainland and Mt. Qomolangma expedition.

The Olympic flame will visit 21 cities outside the Chinese mainland and travel across 113 cities and regions in China before it returns to Beijing on August 6 to start the three-day relay in the Chinese capital.