Olympic flame for Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games lit in Greece

The Olympic flame for Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games was lit at the birthplace of the Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Monday.

The flame then will begin its journey from Olympia to Beijing for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

During the traditional ceremony, actress Xanthi Georgiou in the role of an ancient Greek High Priestess used a concave mirror to focus the sun's rays and light a torch before the 2,500-year-old Temple of Hera, a goddess in ancient Greek mythology.

At the end of the ceremony, the High Priestess will hand over the flame to the first torchbearer, Greek skier Ioannis Antoniou, inside the stadium which hosted the first Games centuries ago.

A total of three torchbearers will relay the torch in Ancient Olympia. Former Chinese short track speed skating athlete Li Jiajun is the second runner.

The flame will be transferred to Athens to be passed over on Tuesday to the organizers of Beijing 2022.

The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics will take place from February 4 to 20, followed by the Paralympics.