Baldini opens Olympic torch relay

The Olympic flame will pass the Spanish Steps and the Pantheon

Athens Games marathon winner Stefano Baldini has begun the torch relay for the 2006 Winter Games in Turin.

Baldini was handed the torch by Italian president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi at a ceremony in Rome and carried it to the Trevi Fountain for the first hand off.

"It was very emotional. It's moments like these make you want to continue," said Baldini.

The torch will pass other Rome landmarks before being blessed by Pope Benedict XVI later on Thursday.

The torch relay will end on the day of the opening ceremony - 10 February.

A total of 10,001 torchbearers will carry the torch across Italy, visiting 140 cities, and crossing neighbouring countries such as Slovenia, Austria, Switzerland and France.

Moroccan double Olympic champion Hicham El Guerrouj, Italy soccer coach Marcello Lippi, New York Yankees manager Joe Torre, and all Italian gold medallists from the Athens and 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics will take part in the relay.

The flame will also make its way to the Leaning Tower of Pisa and will be carried along Venice's Grand Canal.