The Olympic flame left Greece's second largest port Thessaloniki, passing the ancient site of Dion, the town standing at the foot of the Olympus on Friday.

The flame covered four cities after Vassilios Papageorgopovlos, mayor of Thessaloniki, kindled the setting-off torch in Aristotle Square, passing first the ancient site of Dion, the Ancient Theatre, in its 400km journey.

The residents in the town of Dion and Katerini, 15 km northeast of Dion, flocked into the ancient relic to cheer the arrival of the flame.

A big ceremony was put on in the site. The town band performed music "Strose to stroma sou" (make your bed) composed by Mikis Theodorakis.

Pigeons were released after mayor's speech.

Dimosthenis Tambakos, the 2004 Athens Olympics rings' champion, lighted the cauldron amid applauses.

"It's such a special feeling to run the torch, especially in Ancient Theatre," said Tambakos, who had been to China during the1999 world gymnastics championships in Tianjin.

"I have yet to qualify for the Beijing Games, but I will try my best in trials."

The song "to pelago ine vathi" written by Greek famous musician Manos Hatzidakis was sung in the ceremony.

Dion is a municipality and village in the Prefecture of Pieria, Northern Greece, best known for its museum and archaeological site.

The ancient city of Dion was a place of some importance, due to its location at the foot of Mount Olympus. Archaeological findings show that this was where Zeus was honored.

Leaving the Zion, the flame arrived at Volos, a port city, in drizzle. The Volos ceremony was staged in front of the city council.

The city mayor Alexanderos, who was named after Alexander the Great, welcomed the flame by running the first leg of the city relay.

Vicky Kosmidou, the European karate champion, followed up as the second city torchbearer to progress the journey.

"The karate is not a program included in Olympics, so I can't take part in the Beijing Games though I am longing for it," said Kosmidou.

Volos was a city co-hosting the 2004 Olympic soccer matches and is slating facilities for the 2013 Mediterranean Games.

The flame is to stay overnight in Lamia before entering the capital city Athens on Saturday. The sixth day journey is going to get across Amfiario (ancient site), Marathonas, Rafina and the Acropolis.

(Xinhua News Agency March 29, 2008)