ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece — One way or another, Beijing will get its Olympic flame.
At Sunday’s final rehearsal, clouds over the ancient games’ ruined birthplace prevented organizers from kindling the torch for the 2008 Games in the traditional way — using the sun’s rays harnessed in a convex mirror. Instead, a backup flame lit at a rehearsal Saturday was used.
That flame will be sent to China if storms forecast for today scuttle the official lighting ceremony beside the 2,600-year-old Temple of Hera in ancient Olympia.
“We hope the weather is good tomorrow,” Culture Minister Michalis Liapis said.
Clouds spoiled the ceremony for the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the last three Winter Olympics.
But bad weather is not the only headache for the mock-ancient ceremony’s organizers.
About 1,000 police will surround Ancient Olympia to keep pro-Tibetan protesters away from the flame-lighting, which International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge is scheduled to attend.
