ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece?The flame that will burn at the 2002 Winter Games began its long journey to Salt lake City on Monday after a ceremony held among the ruins where the Olympics were born.

Cloudy skies and sporadic showers prevented the flame from being lighted during the ceremony.

The flame is ignited in a concave mirror by the sun’s rays in the mountains around the Olympics’ ancient birthplace. The ceremony is set amid the temples of Hera and Zeus, the main gods once honored at this sanctuary.

“It’s a moment we have long waited for, the beginning of a long trail to Salt Lake City,” Gov. Mike Leavitt said.