The Olympic flame for this summer's London Games was handed over to the British hosts in a moving " miraculous" ceremony held at Panathinaikon Stadium in Athens on Thursday.

Chinese Olympic medallist in gymnastics Lin Ning (L) and Greek Olympic medallist in weightlifting Pyrros Dimas light the cauldron at the flame handover ceremony. [Xinhua]

At the marble venue of the first modern Olympics in 1896, Hellenic Olympic Committee President Spryros Capralos passed the Sacred Flame to Princess Anne of the United Kingdom who headed the British delegation, wishing best success to the 2012 Games.

Princess Anne who has participated in Olympics in the past in equestrian, left the stadium with the Sacred Light, accompanied by five children from the U.K. who briefly earlier were handed by Greek children branches from the oldest olive tree in Greece at the southern Greek island of Crete as a symbol of peace.

It was the closing highlight of a touching handover ceremony attended by Greek and foreign dignitaries, world famous athletes, such as British soccer star David Beckham, and thousands of cheering youngsters and older followers of the Olympic values, despite the heavy rain.

In an "Olympic miracle", the rain stopped the moment the flame reached the venue under loud applauses by spectators who waived their umbrellas.

Greek President Karolos Papoulias, Olympic movement representatives and ordinary people welcomed warmly the Olympic light that entered the stadium at the hands of Greek champion in rowing Christina Giazitzidou, after having crossed the centre of Athens from the Acropolis hill.

A few minutes earlier the Philarmonic Band of the City of Athens had opened the event with the Olympic, Greek and British national anthems sang by children's choirs and Greek tenor Marios Frangoulis.

In a historic innovation for the traditional ceremony, two Olympic legends, Greek Olympic medallist in weightlifting Pyrros Dimas (1992-2004) and Chinese Olympic medallist in gymnastics Lin Ning (1984) were the last torchbearers to carry the flame inside the stadium at the end of the eight-day Torch Relay on Greek soil, symbolizing the continuity of the Games from Athens 2004 and Beijing 20008 to London.

Li Ning was the last torchbearer who had ignited the cauldron at the spectacular opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.

Greek actress Ino Menegaki in the role of High Priestess lit the cauldron inside the stadium, after a modest yet strong choreography directed by choreographer Artemis Ignatiou that was inspired by Greek mythology and depictions on ancient Greek urns.

Escorted by dancers, actors and children acting as priestesses, nymphs-young girls of divine origin according to the myth- and warriors without weapons, at the rythm of drums, she sent the world the messages of friendship, peace and excellence.

The message was underlined, when a group of young Greek children set free pigeons in a surprise dedicated to the British hosts of this year's Games.

Thursday's ceremony was a continuity of the ritual Flame Lighting ceremony held on May 10 at Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games 25 centuries ago, that had marked the start of the 3, 000 kilometers long Torch Relay across Greece.

The second 70-day leg of the Relay across the United Kingdom starts with the transfer of the Sacred Light on Friday to London, where it will return for the opening cemony of the Games on July 27.

Addressing the ceremony in Athens on Thursday evening, Capralos wished that the flame as a source of emotion, excitement and inspiration "will convey, for once more, the message of peace, brotherhood, and respect of human life to the whole world."

In his address President of the London 2012 Organising Committee Lord Sebastian Coe referred to the British hosts' responsibility "to stage Games that use the power of sport to unite the world in a celebration of achievement and inspiration in challenging times."