MOSCOW -- A Russian sports official said on Monday that it will be a "great honor" as the Olympic flame travels to Russia's St. Petersburg on April 5.

The Olympic torch relay will go through the five continents, including five cities of the European continent.

"St. Petersburg will be one of these cities. This is a great honor," Interfax news agency quoted Russian Olympic Committee spokesman Gennady Shvets as saying.

All the Olympic champions who reside in St. Petersburg, other renowned athletes of the city, and some Olympic champions from other Russian cities will take part in the four-hour torch relay.

"The torch will pass through many famous cultural and historical relics as well as beautiful views... to showcase the unique features of St. Petersburg to the world," Vyacheslav Chazov, president of the committee of physical culture and sport in St. Petersburg said last week.

The Beijing Olympic flame was ignited in a traditional sun-ray ceremony at 11:45 local time on Monday in front of the Hera Temple of ancient Olympia, Greece.

The torch will be relayed in Greece for six days and then taken to Beijing in a five-month world tour.