(8 Aug 2004)

1. Various of firework display at inauguration of bridge
2. Bridge lit up in blue lights

STORYLINE:

The Rion Antirion bridge, the world's longest over water, was inaugurated on Saturday evening with a spectacular firework display, near the Greek town of Patras, as part of the Athens 2004 Olympic celebrations.

The crossing links the Peloponnese (southern Greece) to the mainland.

It stretches three kilometres (two miles) across the western end of the Gulf of Corinth to the north of the town of Patras.

The Olympic flame will be carried across the bridge by Greece's victorious Euro 2004 football team on Sunday at 1500gmt.

The bridge will be open to the public on August 12th, the day before the opening ceremony of the 28th Olympiad.

The length of the massive structure spans 2860 metres (9381 feet) and its height is 160 metres (525 feet) above sea level.

The then Greek Prime Minister, Harilaos Trikoupis, first imagined a bridge over the gulf one hundred years ago. Now it has finally become a reality.

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