Maria Nafpliotou

Actress Maria Nafpliotou plays the role of the High Priestess of the Flame-lighting Ceremony.

Nafpliotou got a diploma from the state affiliated professional dance school of Rallou Manou. She had also won a scholarship for the state school of Classical dance in Leningrad in the former Soviet Union.

She started a very successful professional career as a dancer and theater, cinema and TV actress, earning positive comments both from the public and the critics.

Alexandros Nikolaidis

The Athens taekwondo silver medalist Alexandros Nikolaidis is the first torchbearer for Beijing Olympic Games.

Alexander will receive in Ancient Olympia the sacred flame from the High Priestess and will give the signal for its long voyage to Beijing.

Alexander began taekwondo when he was a little child at the age of 3. His first big success was in 1996 when he won the gold medal in World Junior Championship in Barcelona.

Luo Xuejuan

Chinese Luo Xuejuan, the Athens swimming gold medallist, is the first relay runner to take the flame from Greek Alexandros Nikolaidis.

The 24-year-old has established herself as the most prominent Chinese swimmer in the world stage, winning the sole swimming gold for China at the Athens Games, five world championship titles and numerous Asian and national titles.

Luo, dubbed as "Breaststroke Queen" by Chinese fans, retired earlier last year due to poor health.

Deng Yaping

Chinese table tennis veteran Deng Yaping is the fourth torchbearer during the Beijing Olympic Torch relay.

Deng has won four Olympic gold medals and 18 world titles.

After studying in Tsinghua University, Cambridge University and Nottingham University, Deng worked as a member of the IOC Ethics Commission and Sport and Environment Commission in 2002 and now member of the IOC Athletes Commission and an official of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games.

Luo Linquan

Chinese ambassador Luo Linquan is the fifth relay runner during the Beijing Olympic Torch relay.

During an interview in advance of the flame-lighting ceremony, Luo said serving for the Games is a big honor.

"I feel very honored. At the same time, I'm shouldering lots of responsibility. Because Beijing Olympic Games is a great invent for the whole nation. And the flame lighting and torch relay figures the start of the Games. It's important to get everything well done, " CCTV cited Luo as saying.

Liu Hongliang

Chinese Liu Hongliang, the son of the first Chinese to participate in the Olympics, also carries the flame in the Greek leg. 

Liu is now the Chairman of Academic Committee of Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences.