We report what is to our knowledge the first delivery of nanosecond laser pulses through flexible fibers to produce optical sparks in atmospheric-pressure gases. Our work employs a Nd:YAG laser beam (1.064 microm) delivered through a cyclic olefin polymer-coated silver hollow fiber. We studied the beam properties at the fiber exit as a function of the fiber launch geometry. We found that for a low-angle launch (approximately 0.01 rad half-angle), the exit beam has relatively high optical intensity (approximately 2 GW/cm2) and low light divergence (approximately 0.01 rad half-angle) and allows downstream spark formation. The effect of fiber bending on the exit beam and on the ability to make sparks is also investigated.