The build-up to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero, scheduled for August, officially began on Wednesday, with the ceremonial Olympic torch being lit in Athens. This heralds the traditional torch relay, and Greek gymnast Eleftherios Petrounias became the first athlete to carry the torch for this edition. It is slated to arrive in Brazil on April 27, where it will be taken on a 95-day tour of the country.

The official lighting of the torch is a ritual that harks back to the times of the ancient Olympics. The flame is lit using the rays of the sun and a concave mirror in Ancient Olympia – the birthplace of the Olympic games. The ceremony is led by the High Priestess, who prays to ancient Greek gods while lighting the torch.

The flame is placed in a small ceramic bowl and taken towards the Panatheniac Stadium, where it is handed over to the first runner. The torch is a symbol of the the games and is representative of the harmony and goodwill of the Olympics.