Olympic torch ceremony lifts Greek gloom
The lighting of the Olympic flame here at the birthplace of the ancient Games was a stirring moment, which reminded you of the historic significance of the movement and London's responsibilities this summer.
Besides a brief scare when the flame went out, the ceremony passed smoothly. But even with the sun shining it was hard to ignore the gloomier economic backdrop for today's event.
Greece is facing a crippling economic crisis. And while it seems slightly perverse to bemoan cuts to sport at a time when so many are losing their jobs here, the impact on elite athletes has been severe.
All domestic competitions have been cancelled and the has been forced to step in with another Greek bailout - this time to ensure they can field a decent team in London.
I spoke to Spyros Capralos, head of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, who told me that many athletes are struggling to find anywhere to train. For swimmers the situation has been particularly acute, he said. Local authorities can't afford the fuel to heat and clean the pools.
Greece's swimming champion Spyros Gianniotis was the first torch bearer. Photo: Getty
World swimming champion Spyros Gianniotis, who was given the honour of being the first torch bearer today, says some of his team-mates are having to give up because they can't afford to train.
"It's very hard, and it's not only the funding. You don't know what's going on, your country's in debt, you don't know what's going to happen the next day or the next month. Everyone is worried and all Greeks have this in their mind all the time."
For London - not shy of celebrating a countdown - today was perhaps the most significant stepping stone to the Games so far. The 10,000-mile torch relay is the moment organisers hope will ignite more widespread enthusiasm for the Olympics.
With our own economy continuing to bump along the bottom, and his ever growing team at Canary Wharf know they must get the tone right at a time when so many people are facing financial uncertainty.
Many still question the decision to invest more than Β£9bn in a sporting event when cuts are being made elsewhere. Both Lord Coe and the sports minister Hugh Robertson insisted today they were sure the Olympics were still worth the money.
But as Lord Coe added, the Olympics and Olympic movement can't exist in a bubble even if the money both London 2012 and the IOC raise through sponsorship and TV rights keeps going up.
After a week-long tour of Greece, the torch will arrive in Cornwall next Friday. Then the eyes of the world will really be on London.
I'm David Bond, the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's Sports Editor. This blog will give you an insight into the big stories and issues in sport. 
Comment number 1.
At 10th May 2012, Bob wrote:This is the beginning of a very exciting summer for Britain.
Hopefully all of the planning will result in a great Olympic games and give the whole country a boost.
Good luck to all of the athletes involved.
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Comment number 2.
At 10th May 2012, Think Tank wrote:Well - is it apathy for the Olympics ir David Bond that explains the dearth of posts?
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Comment number 3.
At 10th May 2012, Jack1701 wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 4.
At 10th May 2012, TurnItOffThenBackOnAgain wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 5.
At 10th May 2012, Bobbinmoore wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 6.
At 11th May 2012, Think Tank wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 7.
At 11th May 2012, RubberNutz wrote:@Jack1701: Your son must be miserable. Unless you've carted him off to boarding school, In which case he will be miserable during the summer and Christmas.
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Comment number 8.
At 11th May 2012, Think Tank wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 9.
At 11th May 2012, sris22 wrote:To many observers the much anticipated fillip of enthusiasm for London 2012 will come with the Torch Relay. Ahead of today's ticket sale, it looks like LOCOG and Ticketmaster may yet have devised a scheme that addresses the technical issues, gets a wide cross-section of interested parties to the Games and yet be fair to all groups of applicants.
And this is the Olympics. There are only so many times one can have a false start before being disqualified…
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Comment number 10.
At 11th May 2012, hizento wrote:The flame going out is a bad omen for the game particularly to the host nation.
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Comment number 11.
At 11th May 2012, notinmyname wrote:It really brings it home to read that they are struggling to heat their swimming pools. Can't we help? What about inviting the Greek team over earlier. They could stay in the athletes village, train in our facilities and have a sporting chance of competing. The Greeks have given so much to sport and to the Olympic movement in particular that needs to be recognised. Britain prides itself on fair play and so in the best tradition of the Olympics the hand of friendship should be extended to them and an offer of help made now.
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Comment number 12.
At 12th May 2012, james M wrote:I Hope the Olympics and paralympics are a great success and wish all the GB team all the success in the world. I agree the sentiment given by notinmyname that if the Greek team are struggling they should be invited over earlier to show the UK sportsman ship and to Show true olympic spirit and offer a hand of friendship.
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