We are all very happy the firestick has come to my father's place

Reggie Uluru

Nova Peris-Kneebone, barefoot as a token of respect for her people, was handed the Olympic torch by the traditional owners of Ayers Rock, now known again by its Aboriginal name, Uluru.

She was the first of 11,000 runners who will take the flame on a 27,000 km relay around Australia, arriving in Sydney in 99 days' time.

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The day's relay ended after a flight to Alice Springs, with local indigenous child Zac Thompson lighting a cauldron in front of more than 15,000 spectators crammed onto a football field.

The torch had to be re-lit twice in the cold desert winds at Uluru, using a back-up flame carried in a miner's lamp.

Show of respect

The flame, which has travelled through 12 Pacific nations after ignition in Greece, arrived on Thursday morning at Connellan Airport at the nearby Ayers Rock resort.

It was first given to members of the Uluru family, who are among the traditional owners of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.

Flame is spending the night at Alice Springs

Kunmanara 'Reggie' Uluru accepted the torch from Australia's Governor-General Sir William Deane, then handed it to eight other members of his family before it was passed onto Ms Peris-Kneebone.

Before entering Alice Springs, the relay halted as organisers asked indigenous elders for permission to cross their land.

Dreamtime

The emphasis on Aboriginal culture comes after calls by some leaders for demonstrations during the Games to protest at the treatment of Australia's indigenous people.

"We are all very happy the firestick has come to my father's place and we welcome you to our country.

"We have been using traditional firesticks since ancient times and we are proud to welcome this special torch here today," said Reggie Ulura.

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He is one of three brothers responsible for safeguarding Aboriginal law at the sacred rock, which features heavily in Dreamtime, the indigenous belief system.

Ms Peris-Kneebone won gold in Atlanta as a member of Australia's victorious 1996 field hockey team.

Two-time Wimbledon tennis champion Evonne Goolagong-Cawley was among other aboriginal torchbearers after Ms Peris-Kneebone's first run.

Correspondents say the organisers hope the torch relay will inject some much needed Olympic spirit after Australians have been buffetted by a series of scandals and gaffes.