For the first time in the history of the Olympic Games, the torch relay will pass through India, the 2004 Athens Olympics Organising Committee announced on Wednesday.

The Olympic flame, with the theme 'Pass the Flame, Unite the World', on its world-wide path to Athens for the 28^th Olympiad, is scheduled to arrive in India on June 10 after it is lit in ancient Olympia in May.

"In bringing the flame to Delhi, we are recognizing India's great contribution to the Olympic movement and extending a personal invitation from people from Greece to all Indians to join us in celebrating the historic and exciting homecoming of the Olympic Games," Organising Committee president Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki said in a statement.

"The torch is a powerful symbol of the ideas behind the Olympic Games -- peace, participation and the power of human spirit," Angelopoulos-Daskalaki said.

Delhi Lt Governor Vijay Kapoor welcomed the decision, saying: "We are honoured that Delhi will be a host city to the first-ever global Olympic torch relay."

The torch relay in Delhi will begin at the Qutub Minar and thereafter pass through several of the city's historical monuments, like Humayun's tomb, Red Fort, Parliament House and India Gate, before culminating at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.

The torch relay will also pass through South America and Africa before returning to Greece in July.