Streamlined News, May 10, 2012: Olympic Flame; Germany and Brazil Olympic Trials


PHOENIX, Arizona, May 10. THIS morning in Olympia, Greece, the Olympic flame was lit in a ceremonial ritual that takes place every four years at the site of the ancient Olympic Games. The flame was introduced to a gathering of spectators and International Olympic Committee luminaries, and this ceremony kicks off the Olympic Torch relay that will take the flame through Greece for a week and then be run through Great Britain before finishing at the Opening Ceremony on July 27. Open water world champion Spyros Gianniotis was the first runner of the Olympic torch. Gianniotis has a double connection to the Olympics. He was born in Great Britain but holds Greek sport citizenship. Also at this ceremony was the traditional raising of the Olympic flag, the Greek flag and the flag of the upcoming host country, in this case Great Britain. IOC President Jacques Rogge also spoke on the symbolism of the Olympic flame and its role as a beacon for friendship and respect.

While the Olympic torch was being run through Greece, the German Olympic Trials began today in Berlin. Yannick Lehberz had the top swim of the day, a 4:14.90 in the men's 400 IM to become Germany's first name put on the 2012 Olympic roster. He almost broke his national record of 4:14.02.

Brazilian swimmers have one more opportunity this week to make the Olympic swim team before that country announces its roster. The four-day meet will not feature every event, just the ones where Olympic spots are still available. Curiously, though, there is a men's 50 freestyle event, which already has two Olympic qualifiers. After two days of competition, no one has reached the Olympic qualifying standard. Joao de Lucca, a sophomore at the University of Louisville, went 1:48.81 today in the 200 free, a second off the qualifying time.

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