The glob-trotting Olympic flame returned to Greece on Friday for the second leg of its domestic torch relay leading up to the Athens Olympics.

After its five-continent voyage, the flame touched down at the airport of Heralion, Crete, on a chartered Boeing 747 dubbed Zeus at 18:20 local time.

Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, president of the Athens Olympics Organizing Committee (ATHOC), walked off the plane first, holding a small lamp containing the holy fire.

Panayiotis Yiannakis, who was instrumental in Greece's winning the European basketball championship in 1987, was the first torchbearer.

"It's a magical moment, despite the fact that I had participated at the Barcelona torch relay. This torch relay is a completely new experience, it has united the world. We've

exchanged ideas, our diversity -- it's a life connection," said Yiannakis, who coaches the country's Olympic basketball team.

The torch relay passed by the port, the Venetian fortress, the city walls and ended up at Eleftherias Square, where the last bearer, long jumper Stella Pilatou lit the cauldron, followed by a celebration gala show.

Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, a native of Crete, delivered a welcome speech at the square.

"Today, at this moment, I feel great joy and emotion that we are all here in Iraklio (Heralion), in my own homeland, with my family, friends and associates, at the Olympic flame's first stop in Greece and at the starting point of the final course before the flame lights the Olympic Stadium on the evening of August 13th," said the ATHOC chief.

Angelopoulos-Daskalaki also extended her sincere thanks to all Greeks for support to the world's largest sporting event.

"For four years, we have all worked very hard together. Each Greek contributed in his or her own way to this major affair. In some cases we may have expressed different opinions, there might even have been disagreements, but we always shared the same goal and purpose. We all worked together and stayed focused on the results of this long course -- the great and clear success for Greece," she said.

For the next 35 days the flame, ignited in Olympia on March 25, will travel on Greek soil. Stopovers are planned in 29 cities and six important archeological sites, including the Acropolis when it returns to Athens in August.

The flame's 46,800-mile (75,300-kilometer) global journey began on June 4. It passed through Africa and South America for the first time.