The Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch Relay continued its procession through the capital of the Republic of Bashkortostan. The route of the second day of the Torch Relay through Ufa covered 49 km. One of the 236 torchbearers passing the Olympic Flame was biathlete Maxim Chudov, who today announced the end of his sports career. Among the torchbearers were nominees of the Presenting Partners of the Sochi 2014 Torch Relay: the Coca-Cola Company, OSAO "Ingosstrakh" and OAO "Russian Railways."
On the second day, the Sochi 2014 Torch Relay started next to the building of the Ufa Motor Production Association, the largest of its type among Russian businesses. Alexander Artyukhov, director of the UMPA and the president of the republic's swimming federation, sent the Olympic flame on a journey through the northern part of Ufa called Chernikova.
The route of the Sochi 2014 Torch relay city phase went through Victory Park, and it continued through the Biathlon Center. One of the most modern in Russia, Ufa's Biathlon Center hosts shooting skiers from all over Russia annually for various competitions. Today biathletes skied through the Center stadium with the Olympic Torch. Vladimir Novikov, a 76-year-old athlete who is actively involved in sports events, passed the Olympic Flame to famous biathlete Maxim Chudov. For the 31-year-old athlete, this day was doubly significant. After completing his distance on skis with the Olympic Torch in hand, Maxim announced the end of his sports career, during which he was fortunate enough to be world champion three times, as well as win the bronze at the Olympic Games in the men's relay.
Among the Olympic torchbearers of Ufa were well-known athletes who have won medals at the Olympic and Paralympic Games: track and field athlete Egor Nikolaev; two-time champion of the Paralympic Games in cross-country, Minnigaley Abdulin; many-time champion and record holder of the Paralympic Games in swimming, Oksana Savchenko; champion and medal winner of the Paralympic Games, track and field athlete Alexey Labzin; and 13-time champion of the Paralympic Games, track and field athlete Rima Batalova.
On Day 75 of the Olympic Torch Relay, it was not only athletes that were torchbearers, but also residents of Bashkortostan with amazing life stories. They included a colonel of Cossack troops, Timur Ayupov; Marat Akhmetkhanov, a driver who received the award "For display of courage and determination" for saving a woman with two children from a sinking car; and 81-year-old Tatyana Kozlova, an honoured coach in Alpine skiing who trained many participants in world competitions and the Olympic Games.
Around 600 Ufa volunteers made a strong contribution to the preparation and staging of the city phase of the Torch Relay for the entire route - at the torchbearer starting points, at city celebrations, at the hotel and at the collection points. During one of the celebrations, students arranged a flash mob that was accompanied by a drawing of a torchbearer in graffiti style.
The Relay made a stop by the office of OSAO "Ingosstrakh", a Presenting Partner of the Torch Relay. Spectators enjoyed ceremonial speeches from happy torchbearer nominees of the insurance company, as well as national Bashkirian dances and drum performances.
Bobsledder, silver Olympic medal winner, world cup recipient and silver world championship medal winner Alexey Seliverstov completed the two-day Olympic procession through Ufa. Together with the president of the Republic of Bashkortostan, Rustem Khamitov, he lit the Cauldron - a gift to the city from Presenting Partner of the Torch Relay, OSAO "Ingosstrakh."
On the 22th of December the Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch Relay will arrive in Orenburg.
For more information contact: Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch Relay Communications Service
sochi2014.com | OGON@sochi2014.com | +7 495 984 2014
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