Olympic flame returns to Greece after global tour

The flame was lit on March 25 and its voyage began on June 4 in Australia and went on to cover 78,000 kms through 26 countries.

The Olympic flame headed back to its homeland on Friday after a global relay that included groundbreaking stops in Africa and South America.

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An airplane carrying the flame from Cyprus was scheduled to land on the southern island of Crete to begin its final leg around Greece before the Aug 13 opening ceremony in Athens.

A welcoming celebration and concert was planned in the city of Iraklion, one of four sites outside Athens that will host Olympic soccer matches.

The flame was lit on March 25 in a traditional ceremony at Ancient Olympia, birthplace of the games. Its international voyage began on June 4 in Australia and went on to cover 78,000 kilometres through 26 countries.

The relay visited Africa and South America for the first time, and provided epic images such as torch-bearers on China's Great Wall and around the base of Egypt's Giza Pyramids.

In Greece, about 7,000 runners are scheduled to carry the torch in 29 cities and six major archaeological areas, including the site of the 490 BC Battle of Marathon _ which gave the modern race its name and Vergina, the legendary burial place of Philip II, father of the 3rd century BC emperor-conqueror Alexander the Great.