The flame for the Vancouver Olympics was lit by the sun’s rays in an ancient ceremony in ancient Greece on Thursday, launching the torch relay for the 2010 Winter Games.

The sun shone just enough over the fallen temples at the birthplace of the ancient Olympics for a Greek actress to focus its rays on a silver torch using a concave mirror.

The flame will burn at the Feb. 12-28 Vancouver Games. Greek giant slalom skier Vassilis Dimitriadis, 31, was the first torchbearer to run out of the ancient stadium after accepting the flame from actress Maria Nafpliotou. After an eight-day journey across Greece, the torch will be handed over to Canadian officials at the restored ancient Panathenaean Stadium in Athens on Oct. 29.

It will reach Canada on Oct. 30 for what organizers say will be the largest national relay starting in Victoria, B.C., and involving 12,000 torchbearers.Davis skates by Hedrick

Shani Davis won a thrilling 5,000 meters at the U.S. speedskating trials in West Allis, Wis., maintaining a steady pace over the 121/2 laps and crossing the line in 6 minutes, 30.90 seconds.

Chad Hedrick, who skated earlier, used his trademark finishing kick to cross the line in 6:30.92, then watched the rival Davis go a blink of the eye faster. Hedrick captured gold in the 5,000 at the Turin Games.

Davis also posted the fastest time in the 1,000 – an event he won at Turin – covering the 21/2 laps in 1 minute, 8.85 seconds. Nick Pearson and Trevor Marsicano were second and third.

Jilleanne Rookard, 26, who isn’t even listed in the media guide, was the surprise winner of the women’s 3,000 meters. She earned a spot on the World Cup team with a time of 4:13.32, along with Maria Lamb, Nancy Swider-Peltz Jr. and Catherine Raney.

Davis had already qualified for the World Cup team in the 500, and still has another of his bread-and-butter events to go at these trials, the 1,500.

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