Performer Danilo Zeka prepares to light a cauldron carrying the flame for the Paralympic Games, in Athens Thursday, Sept. 9, 2004. The ceremony was held at the ancient Temple of Hephaestus. (Xinhua photo)

Greek dancer Danillo Zeka lights the cauldron during the flame-lighting ceremony of the Paralympic Games, at the ancient Temple of Hephaestus at the Thissio in Athens, September 9, 2004. (Xinhua photo)

    ATHENS, Sept. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- The Flame for Athens Paralympic Games was lit here Thursday evening in the center of Athens below the world famous Acropolis, starting the 9th torch relay in Paralympic history.

    Addressing the lighting ceremony which started at 7:40 pm localtime, President of Athens Organizing Committee (ATHOC) Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki invited the whole world to the Paralympic Games, which will be hosted by Greece for the first time in its history.

    "Highlighting the athlete, and not the disability, the Athens Paralympic Games will offer everyone the unique opportunity of experiencing at first hand athletes' pursuit of outstanding performances," she said.

    "The strength and ability of Paralympic athletes and their veryhigh level of competition will inspire humankind to live out this unique celebration by participating in an event that shows human endeavor at its finest," she added.

    Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis expressed hope that the Paralympic Games will send the world a message of Humanism.

    "With the successful and safe organization of the Olympic Games,we sent to the whole world a message of peace, friendship and cooperation among people and nations," he said.

    "With the flame of the Paralympic Games, we are now sending a message of Culture and, on top of all, Humanism," he stressed.

    The flame was lit by rubbing two stones together at the Temple of Hephaestus, in a reference to the ancient Greek god of fire whowas also lame in Greek myths.

    First torchbearer Costas Fykas, who won two gold medals in Paralympics in Sydney 2000, started the torch relay by lighting his torch from the cauldron.

    The cauldron was lit by Performer Danilo Zeka, who carried the fire from the temple where the flame was ignited.

    A total of 705 torch bearers will carry the Paralympic Flame through 54 municipalities of Attica, covering a total distance of 410 km. Olympic and Paralympic medalists, world championships and other celebrities will be among those carrying the Flame.

    The flame will reach the main stadium on September 17, where itwill burn until the end of the Games on September 28. Enditem