The OLYMPIC FLAME will soon be lit in GREECE next week in a ceremony that stretches back more than a century.

Executive vice president of the BEIJING OLYMPICS ORGANISING COMMITTEE, Jiang Xiaoyu, said the flame will then be passed to the red and silver swirls adorning the 2008 TORCH.

"The Olympic flame will be lit in Olympia, Greece on March 24. The Beijing Olympic torch relay is expected to usher in the splendid celebration of the 2008 Olympic Games."

During the arrival ceremony for the flame into China on March 31, one of the lanterns with the Olympic flame will be kept aside.

A torchbearer team will then attempt to take the Flame to the world's highest peak on a day in May that presents the best climatic conditions for the ascent.

Jiang Xiaoyu said that for the Qomolangma or Mt. Everest leg, evaluations have been done to counter weather conditions and technical problems.

"We have taken into consideration all kinds of risks involving the upcoming relay to the highest peak. We will consider changing route or even cancel the activity if accidents occur."

Jiang said in order to avoid two relays occuring simultaneously, the torch relays in a respective province will be suspended on the day when the torch ascends the peak and resumed afterward.

After the ascent, the flame will be kept in TIBET'S capital, Lhasa, and then join the flame traveling in the mainland of China when it arrives in Lhasa.

Starting on April 1, the Olympic torch will be relayed in 21 cities outside the mainland of China.

The flame will arrive in Sanya, on the southern ISLAND PROVINCE of HAINAN on May 3.

It thens travel to a total of 113 cities across the country, culminating in BEIJING on August 8, where it will light the OLYMPIC CAULDRON in the new NATIONAL STADIUM.