The Olympic flame was handed to organizers of the Rio de Janeiro Games in Athens Wednesday, 100 days before the opening ceremony in Brazil. Dressed as a high priestess, actress Katerina Lehou led the brief ceremony at the Panathenian Stadium, a horseshoe-shaped marble venue where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896. Lehou, who lit the flame in Ancient Olympia last week, used a torch to light a cauldron inside the Athens stadium. The flame, placed in a lantern, was handed over to Greek Olympic Committee President Spyros Kapralos, who, in turn, passed it to Rio Games organizing head Carlos Nuzman. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who is fighting impeachment over allegations of erroneous budget figures, declined an invitation to visit Greece for the lighting ceremony and start of the Olympic torch's six-day journey around Greece. During the Aug. 5-21 Games, Nuzman said, Brazilians would come together in celebration. "Our mission, dear friends, is bigger than Brazil itself. We represent all the peoples of South America," he told a crowd of several thousand Athenians. Countdown events were held around the world and Rio organizers were to take over the Olympic flame in Athens to start the long journey to South America's first Olympics. New Zealand athletes staged a sunrise traditional haka dance on an Auckland beach to mark the day. Britain unveiled its Olympic uniform designed by Stella McCartney. In a highlight of the Greek torch relay, the flame made a symbolic stop Tuesday at a United Nations-run refugee camp in Athens. The torch was carried by Syrian refugee Ibrahim Al-Hussein. After Wednesday's ceremony, the flame will travel to Switzerland, where it will visit the United Nations building in Geneva and the Olympic Museum in Lausanne. The flame will reach Brazil next Tuesday, starting in the capital of Brasilia. Organizers say it will reach most of the vast country's 200 million population, covering 20,000 kilometers (12,000 miles) by road and 16,000 kilometers (10,000 miles) by air to reach hundreds of cities and towns in a giant effort involving 12,000 torchbearers. The torch will reach Rio's Maracana Stadium for the opening ceremony on Aug. 5. "We will take the Olympic experience to every corner of our country, to every state capital," Nuzman said. "When you arrive in Rio there will plenty of music, poetry and excitement. ... Rio is ready to deliver history." Nadal to be Spain's flag-bearer The Spanish Olympic Committee says Rafael Nadal will be Spain's flag-bearer at the Rio de Janeiro Games. It's the second time Nadal, winner of 14 Grand Slam titles, has been selected as a flag-bearer. The former top-ranked player was given the honor for the 2012 London Olympics but missed the Games because of an injury and was replaced by NBA star Pau Gasol. Pellegrini to fly flag for Italy Swim star Federica Pellegrini, the golden girl of Italian sport, will carry her country's flag at the Rio Olympics in August, the national Olympic committee CONI announced Wednesday. The former Olympic champion and 200m freestyle world record holder is Italy's most high-profile female sports star. — Agencies
