Olympic Flame Is Lit

10 May 2012, 10:56 | Updated: 10 May 2012, 11:01

The global countdown to London 2012 has started this morning with the Olympic torch being lit in ancient Greece.

Along with tradition it was ceremonially lit with the rays of the sun in the ruins of a temple in Olympia.

A teenager from London has been among the first of the torch bearers.

19-year-old Alex Loukos was one of the young ambassadors who helped secure the 2012 Games for London in 2005.

As part of today's scared ritual, he was the second person to carry the flame.

It will now travel around Greece before coming to the UK next week for a 70 day torch relay ahead of London 2012.