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 in Greece that was briefly disrupted by protesters.
Protesters briefly disrupted the event as China's representative spoke, briefly evading some of the 1,000 police officers in Olympia.
Two pro-Tibet activists broke through the cordon of 1,000 police officers in Olympia and attempted to display a flag as China's envoy spoke.
Pro-Tibet activists had vowed to protest over the violence in Tibet.
Activists had vowed to protest over the violence in and around Tibet.
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.
The torch will now be carried through 20 countries. It will be taken to the top of Mount Everest and through Tibet before arriving in Beijing 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, two men ran up behind him attempting to display a black flag depicting the Olympic rings made from handcuffs.
He was quickly bundled away by police and Mr Liu continued his speech uninterrupted.
They were 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 protesters until they had been removed from the scene.
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.
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.
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 ceremony, beside the Temple of Hera, was moved forward by an hour and the sun shone through a break in the clouds.
'Force for change'
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.
Despite cloudy weather, the torch was lit using the sun's rays"The major political leaders don't want a boycott," said IOC president Jacques Rogge said ahead of Monday's ceremony.
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.
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.
'Force for change'
In his speech during the ceremony, Mr Rogge said the Olympic torch relay and the Games should take place in a peaceful environment.
In his speech during the ceremony, Mr Rogge said the Olympic torch relay and the Games should take place in a peaceful environment.
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."
"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."
He has previously said that holding the games in Beijing will hold China up to scrutiny and potentially prompt change.
He told the Associated Press news agency on Monday that he was engaged in "silent diplomacy" with Beijing on Tibet and other human rights issues.
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.
Tibet unrest
The Olympic torch is being carried in a 136,000km (85,000 miles) around-the-world relay that will see it pass through 20 countries before arriving in Beijing for the start of the Games on 8 August.
The Olympic torch will visit 22 cities around the worldTibet activists are angered that the torch's route will take it through the Himalayan region and to the top of Mount Everest, which straddles the border between Nepal and Tibet.
China sent troops to Tibet in 1950 and since then there have been periods of unrest and sporadic uprisings as resentment of Beijing's rule has persisted.
The latest round of anti-China protests began in Tibet's main city, Lhasa, on 10 March - the 49th anniversary of a failed uprising - and gradually escalated.
Lhasa saw at least two days of violence and there have also been 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 130 people have died in a crackdown by Chinese troops and deny any role in 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:
