Beijing organizers handed Olympic flame at Athens ceremony

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Greek officials have handed over the Olympic flame to organizers of the Beijing Olympics. Sunday's ceremony was held at the marble Panathenian Stadium where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896. There was strong police security following sporadic protests by pro-Tibet and human rights groups during the week long Greek leg of the torch relay from Ancient Olympia. The torch will arrive March 31 in Beijing on a purpose-fitted airliner. It then will travel through 20 countries before returning to mainland China - covering 137,000 kilometers (85,100 miles) altogether.