Photos: Flame for 2020 Tokyo Olympics lit in Greece amid coronavirus lockdown

The Olympic flame for the 2020 Tokyo Games was lit behind closed doors in ancient Olympia

Published: March 12, 2020 15:07 Compiled by Balaram Menon, Senior Digital Content Producer

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The Olympic flame for the 2020 Tokyo Games was lit in ancient Olympia on Thursday amid an unprecedented health lockdown as Greece registered its first death from coronavirus. Image Credit: AFP

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With spectators banned, Greek actress Xanthi Georgiou dressed as an ancient Greek high priestess lit the flame using the rays of the sun reflected off a concave mirror, launching a week-long torch relay in Greece before the flame is handed to Tokyo organisers on March 19. Image Credit: Reuters

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Greek actress Xanthi Georgiou, playing the role of High Priestess passes the flame to the first torchbearer, Greek shooting athlete Anna Korakaki, during the opening of the Olympic flame torch relay for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics. Image Credit: REUTERS

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Second torchbearer, Japanese former marathon runner Noguchi Mizuki carries the torch during the opening of the Olympic flame torch relay for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics. Image Credit: REUTERS

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General view as actresses perform during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics. Image Credit: REUTERS

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Greek actress Xanthi Georgiou, playing the role of High Priestess, arrives for the ceremony. Image Credit: REUTERS

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International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach (L) and Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos (C) arrive to the Olympic flame lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia, ahead of Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Image Credit: AFP

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Greek actress Xanthi Georgiou, playing the role of High Priestess, carries the flame during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics. Image Credit: REUTERS

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First torchbearer, Greek shooting athlete Anna Korakaki, carries the torch during the opening of the Olympic flame torch relay for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics. Image Credit: REUTERS

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International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach speaks during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia, ahead of Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Image Credit: AFP

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Greek actress Xanthi Georgiou, playing the role of High Priestess, holds the flame during the flame lighting ceremony at the closed Ancient Olympia site, birthplace of the ancient Olympics in southern Greece. Greek Image Credit: AP

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Paralympic Games Vice President Toshiaki Endo speaks during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia, ahead of Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Image Credit: AFP

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Torchbearer Greece's Anna Korakaki, Rio 2016 gold medallist in the 25m pistol shooting, holds the Olympic flame and an olive branch during the flame lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia, ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Image Credit: AFP

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Photos: Flame for 2020 Tokyo Olympics lit in Greece amid coronavirus lockdown

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