The moment everyone was waiting for- the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron in Geelong.

Some of the thousands who turned out for this historic event

The Olympic Flame burns brightly during the ceremony

Thousands viewed the proceedings from vantage points all over the Eastern Beach parkland

The elegant Sydney 2000 Olympic Torch

Colourful sporting themed displays surrounded the area

Many scrambled to hold the relay torch

huge video screens gave the thousands gathered an up close view of the Olympic action