The Olympic flame was officially handed over to Vancouver, hosts of the 2010 Winter Olympics, during a solemn ceremony here on Thursday at the site of the first modern Games of 1896.

Spyros Kapralos, the president of the Greek Olympic Committee, handed the torch to John Furlong, the head of Vancouver's organising committee COVAN, in the presence of Canada's Governor General Michaelle Jean and Greek President Carolos Papoulias.

"It's at this moment that the Olympic flame's journey to Canada begins," said Mr Furlong, who said the flame "embodies the values of peace and friendship... which unify and inspire the whole world".

Mr Furlong revealed that 12,000 people would take part in the relay transporting the flame across his country. Australia's own dual Olympic medallist Alisa Camplin will un with the torch in Canada on November 4, which marks 100 days until the Games open.

AFP