The flame, meant to represent purity, was kindled from the rays of the sun using a parabolic mirror in a ceremony on 10 May at Olympia, the home of theancientOlympicGames.
When theAncientGames were revived as the Modern OlympicGames in Athens 1896, local hero Spiridon Louis won the marathon -- as he should have -- to bring his country international recognition and fame.
"The removal from theOlympic program of traditional forms of sports, which were its basis from the beginning and were in the program of theOlympicGames even in the time of ancient Greece ... is unjustified, " Russian president Vladimir Putin said in March.
Mr Rogge said that like the messengers in ancient times who shared news of theOlympic truce - the laying down of arms for theGames - "the torchbearers who carry this flame to London will spread the message of sport's capacity to promote peace and to make our world a better place".