PyeongChang 2018 Olympic flame starts journey from Games' birthplace

Greek actress Katerina Lehou, playing the role of High Priestess gives an olive branch to Greek cross country skiing athlete Apostolos Aggelis during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics in ancient Olympia, Greece, on Oct 24, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos, South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach, President of the Organizing Committee of the PyeongChang Games Lee Hee-beom and other Greek and foreign officials attended the ceremony.

"From here, the cradle of the Olympic spirit and values, we send to the entire world the message of peace and democracy, the message of peaceful cooperation," Pavlopoulos told Xinhua and other media after the ceremony.

"It was a great start for the Olympic Winter Games of 2018 in PyeongChang... With these Games we will carry the Olympic Games into a bright future," Bach said.

The poor weather conditions did not affect the enthusiasm of the cheering crowd of locals and foreign visitors.

Despite the rain, schoolchildren from local schools in colorful uniforms formed the five Olympic circles and the Olympic anthem, the national anthem of South Korea and the national anthem of Greece were performed by children's and youth choirs.

Following the hoisting of the Olympic flag, the Games host country's flag, and the Greek flag, the Mayor of Ancient Olympia Efthymios Kotzas addressed the event.

"From these sacred grounds of Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, at the time of the relay of the Olympic Flame, I address the whole world with the message of hope, optimism and solidarity," he said.

"The flame showcases the role of sport and olympism, which contribute to the creation of a better world, through initiatives promoting dialogue, mutual understanding and solidarity," President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee Spyros Capralos added during his speech.