Olympic Torch Lighted in Greece

ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece —  The symbolic flame of the 1996 Summer Olympics sparked to life Saturday and began a 111-day journey to Atlanta, as First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton urged nations “to find peace and camaraderie through sport.”

Granted a rare privilege, the first lady was allowed amid the ruins of the temple of Zeus for the ceremony. An actress dressed as a high priestess touched the torch to a flame captured by a burnished-steel mirror.

The torch, made partly of Georgia pecan wood, was carried by a runner into the ancient dirt stadium, opening a relay that ends in Atlanta at the July 19 opening ceremonies.

In one of her trickiest diplomatic tasks of an eight-day European trip, Mrs. Clinton tried to soothe Greek feelings, hurt by their failure to host the Games on the centennial of the modern Olympics.

Her visit was also designed to promote the Atlanta Games, which hold the potential to put President Clinton at the center of a feel-good extravaganza in an election year. He plans to attend at least the opening ceremonies.