More than 30,000 spectators had filled the stadium to watch the splendid Greek traditional ceremony at the place where the modern Olympic Games was revived 108 years ago.

"I am convinced that despite the difficult times facing humanity today due to 'random' violence and the resurgence of religious and other types of fanaticism, the Olympic flame, which until today hs managed to preserve its symbolic character intact, will succeed in reviving people's faith in ideals and renewing their love for timeless principles and values," Hellenic Olympic Committee President Lambis Nikolaou said.

"It is at this sacred and symbolic moment, with the arrival of the flame to Athens, that Greece links the past, present, and future of the Olympic Games and provides and indication of the unique Olympic Games that we are organizing," Athens 2004 organising committee for the Olympic Games president Gianna Angelopoulos Daskalaki said after receiving the flame from Nikolaou.

The flame, which as lit by High Priestess Thalia Prokopiou in ancient Olympia last Thursday and traveled the Peloponese Peninsula in the past week, will remain in the historic stadium till June 4 when the international journey starts.

It will return to Greece for the second leg, which will take place from July 9 to August 13 for the opening ceremony.

For 43 days, approximately 7,700 torchbearers will travel across the country, in about 321 hours, carrying the flame by boat, helicopter and car.

It will be the first relay that will traverse the globe and return to where its journey began. The flame will pass through the country's 54 prefectures, lighting up large cities as well as small border towns.

The torch relay will be run around the world, including its first trips ever to South America and Africa and pass through all former Summer Olympic cities.