Greek Tragedy for Olympic McFlame

‘Olympic Flame Goes Out During Torch Lighting Ceremony’ was the headline that most caught my imagination this week, closely followed by ‘Aussie shooter in London 2012 'mankini' threat'


The fact the Greeks could cock something up was not what matters here – I’m surprised they’ve got the time or energy to bother with the whole business at all at this precise moment in time!

Instead, what struck me was the fact that the whole ceremony may well just prove to be an elaborate metaphor for this summer’s Games themselves.

Never long without a canapé in his hand, Lord Coe was (obviously) there as part of the British delegation on hand to witness the spectacle at Olympia’s Temple of Hera.

An expectant, if gullible, crowd watched on as ‘High Priestess’ (aka actress) Ino Menegaki focused the rays of the morning sun in a parabolic mirror and kindled the first sparks of the official Olympic McFlame (sponsored by McDonald’s)

What happened next, probably wasn’t part of the script, but the whole ceremony, which was first held in ancient times - well, 1935, at Adolf Hitler’s request – almost met with disaster as a surprise gust of wind extinguished the flame before it could be used to light the official torch.

Thank Zeus they had a back-up!

The ‘flame’ now begins it’s solemn journey to the nearest EasyJet airport before being flown to Britain, alongside several hundred packets of Swan Vestas matches and a couple of boxed of lighters, just in case.

Secrecy still surrounds the way the flame will eventually light the giant torch in the Olympic Stadium itself, but suffice to say, there’s a pretty happy Calor Gas salesman in Stratford this week.

Bring on the Games!!


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