The torch handover ceremony for the sacred Olympic flame was held at Panathenaikon Stadium, the site of the first modern-day Olympic Games. The torch welcome ceremony will be held at Tian'anmen Square on the morning of March 31.

Date/Time: 12:00 GMT, Monday, March 30, 2008

Venue: Panathenaikon Stadium, Athens

Greek presidential guards dressed in traditional attire have entered the stadium. The handover ceremony is about to start.

The philharmonic band of the city of Athens is now entering the stadium.

President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias is entering Panathenaikon Stadium. Marching next to Papoulias is Hellenic Olympic Committee President Minos Kyriakou.

President Papoulias shakes hands with members of BOCOG and the IOC.

Now flag bearers enter the stadium with the Chinese and Greek flags.

The national anthem of China is played.

The national anthem of Greece is played.

The host welcomes the guests to the Olympic Flame Handover Ceremony and introduces the philharmonic band of the city of Athens and the choir.

The priestesses enter the stadium. The sequence was choreographed by Artemis Ignatiou, who also choreographed the torch lighting ceremony.

High Priestess Maria Nafpliotou enters with the Beijing Olympic Torch.

The last torchbearer in Greece, Pigi Devetzi, enters with the Olympic Flame.

Devetzi lights the altar.

The host: Now the Olympic anthem.

The Olympic anthem is sung by the choir.

The host invites Hellenic Olympic Committee President Minos Kyriakou and BOCOG President Liu Qi to the stage.