Successful rehearsal held for Vancouver’s Olympic flame lighting ceremony

Sunshine for 2010 Olympic flame ceremony rehearsal

ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece — Greek officials have conducted the final rehearsal for the kindling of the Olympic flame that will burn at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games.

Standing in front of the 2,600-year-old Temple of Hera, an actress dressed as an ancient priestess used a concave mirror to light a silver torch with the sun’s rays Wednesday.

That flame will serve as a backup if clouds hide the sun at Thursday’s official lighting ceremony in the birthplace of the ancient Olympics.

Bad weather disrupted the ceremony for the past three Winter Olympics.

Police will be on alert Thursday amid fears anti-sealhunting protesters might target the Feb. 12-28 Vancouver Games.