BUENOS AIRES, July 24 (Xinhua) -- The flame for the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games was lit in Athens, Greece on Tuesday, marking the start of the countdown to October's event in Argentina's capital.

The ceremony took place in the Athenian Panathenaic Stadium and reconstructed the lighting of the first modern Olympic Games flame in 1896.

According to organizers, "the Youth Flame was lit by the sun's rays reflected in a parabolic mirror."

The flame will arrive in the Argentinian capital on Wednesday for a two-month Torch Relay, traveling 14,000 kilometers across Argentina and passing some of its most iconic sites.

The relay aims to spread the Olympic spirit of "friendship, respect and excellence," along with sport's ability to help build a better society, said organizers.

The Third Summer Youth Games, due to take place in Buenos Aires between Oct. 6 and 18, will see some 4,000 young athletes from 206 countries and regions compete in a range of fields.

The first Youth Olympic Games took place in Singapore in 2010 with the second edition in Nanjing, China in 2014.