The Olympic torch has been lit at a ceremony being held in Greece amid heavy security.
The Olympic torch has been lit at a ceremony being held in Greece amid heavy security.
About 1,000 police officers are patrolling ancient Olympia, fearing protests by pro-Tibet demonstrators.
Protesters briefly disrupted the event as China's representative spoke, briefly evading some of the 1,000 police officers in Olympia.
One person briefly disrupted proceedings as China's representative spoke but was removed by security.
Pro-Tibet activists had vowed to protest over the violence in Tibet.
The torch is to be carried through 20 countries - and will pass over Mount Everest and Tibet - before the Games open 8 August.
The torch is to be carried through 20 countries. It will pass over Mount Everest and into Tibet, before arriving in Beijing for the Games on 8 August.
Protester removed
Protester removed
As Liu Qi, head of the Beijing Olympic organising committee, spoke ahead of the torch lighting, a man ran up behind him attempting to display a flag.
As Liu Qi, head of the Beijing Olympic organising committee, spoke ahead of the torch lighting, a man ran up behind him attempting to display a flag.
He was quickly bundled away by police and Mr Liu continued his speech uninterrupted.
He was quickly bundled away by police and Mr Liu continued his speech uninterrupted.
The Olympic Games are a force for good Jaques Rogge
The Olympic Games are a force for good Jaques Rogge
The camera cut away from Mr Liu and the protester until he had been removed from the scene.
The camera cut away from Mr Liu and the protester until he had been removed from the scene.
The flame-lighting ceremony, beside the Temple of Hera, is being televised and shown around the world.
Actors dressed in ancient Greek costume then lit the torch in the traditional manner by using a parabolic mirror to focus the sun's rays.
There were fears that stormy weather would prevent the torch being lit in the customary way.
The ceremony, beside the Temple of Hera, was moved forward by an hour and the sun shone through a break in the clouds.
The head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has defended the decision to hold the Games in China saying there was "no momentum" for a boycott.
The head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has defended the decision to hold the Games in China saying there was "no momentum" for a boycott.
"The major political leaders don't want a boycott," said IOC president Jacques Rogge said ahead of Monday's ceremony.
"The major political leaders don't want a boycott," said IOC president Jacques Rogge said ahead of Monday's ceremony.
Activists had vowed to protest over the violence in and around Tibet.
Before the ceremony, a Tibetan activist confronted Mr Rogge in a hotel lobby and said there should be free access for all media inside China, including Tibet, during the Games.
'China will change'
'Force for change'
The torch is traditionally held inside a parabolic mirror and ignited by the sun's rays.
In his speech during the ceremony, Mr Rogge said the Olympic torch relay and the Games should take place in a peaceful environment.
There have been fears cloudy skies meant the flame could not be lit in the traditional way at the dress rehearsal on Sunday and with storms forecast, organisers moved the ceremony by an hour to avoid the rain.
Thousands of officials and journalists attended the event"The torch is the link between all athletes and citizens of this world; between all of us who believe in Olympism and the virtue of sport. It has the force to unite humanity and to stand for harmony."
But as the lighting ceremony got underway, the sun was shining.
He has previously said that holding the games in Beijing will hold China up to scrutiny and potentially prompt change.
Thousands of people are attending the ceremony, including the president and prime minister of Greece.
On Sunday, Mr Rogge described recent events in Tibet as "a matter of great concern to the IOC".
The Olympics, he said, while "not a panacea for all ills", were a force for good that could prompt change.
"We believe that China will change by opening the country to the scrutiny of the world through the 25,000 media who will attend the Games," he said.
'Bloodstained torch'
Tenzin Dorjee, deputy director of Students for a Free Tibet, said that the IOC should prevent the torch from passing through Tibet.
The Olympic torch will visit 22 cities around the world"Carrying China's bloodstained torch through Tibet where we are seeing evidence of discontent would be adding insult to 50 years of injury," he said.
But Chinese authorities say the route has been set and the torch-bearers chosen.
The torch relay team would work "with all concerned units, taking very seriously and cooperating with security and protection work, and strictly guarding against disturbances and sabotage by the Dalai clique", an unnamed official from the Tibet sports authority told the state-run Tibet Daily.
Anti-China protests began in Tibet's main city, Lhasa, on 10 March and gradually escalated. Lhasa saw at least two days of violence and there have also been violent protests in provinces which border Tibet.
Anti-China protests began in Tibet's main city, Lhasa, on 10 March and gradually escalated. Lhasa saw at least two days of violence and there have also been violent protests in provinces which border Tibet.
China says 19 people were killed by rioters and accuses Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama of inciting the violence.
China says 19 people were killed by rioters and accuses Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama of inciting the violence.
The Tibetan government-in-exile says at least 99 people have died in a crackdown by Chinese troops and deny any role in organising the protests.
The Tibetan government-in-exile says at least 99 people have died in a crackdown by Chinese troops and deny any role in organising the protests.
Are you attending the ceremony? Are you happy with the planned route of the Olympic torch? Please send your comments by using the form below:
Are you attending the ceremony? Are you happy with the planned route of the Olympic torch? Please send your comments by using the form below:
