The Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch Relay is continuing its journey through the Olympic host city, Sochi. A day before the grand Opening Ceremony of the XXII Olympic Winter Games, torchbearers ran along the streets of the Central District of Big Sochi. 126 participants of the Olympic procession divided a route of 20 km among themselves. Among the Olympic torchbearers were the nominees of the Sochi 2014 Torch Relay Presenting Partners: the Coca-Cola Company, OSAO "Ingosstrakh" and OAO "Russian Railways".
The Olympic Flame arrived in the center of Sochi on the special train No. 701, which completed its record-breaking journey in length along Russia's railways in 83 days. On the first platform, the Keepers of the Flame were greeted by Olympic figure skating champions Tatiana Navka and Roman Kostomarov. They were the first torchbearers for Day 122 of the Sochi 2014 Torch Relay in the center of the Olympic host city. With the lit Torch, Tatiana Navka conducted the Torch Relay train, decorated with elements of the bright orange patchwork quilt, and she descended the staircase to the station area, where she passed the Flame to her ice dancing partner, Roman Kostomarov.
From the train station, the Olympic procession went along Gorky Street and Navaginskaya Street. Then a group slot was run by managers from Coca-Cola, among who was the Director of the Coca-Cola Olympics project, Dimitris Makavos.
Along the picturesque boulevard among palm trees, chestnuts and firs, the Olympic Flame was carried by the mayor of Sochi, Anatoly Pakhomov, and then the Torch Relay was received by Margarita Simonyan, the head of the Russia Today channel and vice president of the National Association of Television and Radio Broadcasters.
"The Olympic Flame is already in Sochi - and that means that the most important event is already on the threshold!" said Anatoly Pakhomov. "For seven years we have observed how the sports venues and roads have been built, and how the city has been reconstructed and become a real European resort!"
"This is a huge honor for Sochi, for my hometown!" Margarita Simonyan attested. "We see how excellently everything has been done, how many people have arrived, and how many more will still arrive! We will remember this joy for decades."
After the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov and the Russian Minister of Defense Sergey Shoygu passed the Olympic Flame one to another, the head of the All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcast Company, Anastasia Chernobrovina, received the Relay from Shoygu, and then passed it to producer Yana Rudkovskaya.
Sergey Lavrov remarked: "I would like to wish peace to the world. After all, that is my profession - to make it so that there are fewer problems and conflicts, and more joy and serenity. Personally for me, it is an honor to join this great event today!"
And Yana Rudkovskaya shared her impressions from the first day of the Olympic Games: "Everything is starting today for me, as today Evgeni is appearing with a short program. This is such excitement, plus now I am running with the Torch in my hometown. This is a very important day for it! Sochi earned this celebration, it became truly European and Olympic, and on these days we must rally together and give our hearts to our Olympic team!"
Torchbearers moved farther down Moskovskaya and Donskaya Streets, ran along the bank of the Sochi River, crossed the famous Kurortny Prospect and arrived at the Seaport, where the Olympic clocks counted down the time to the start of the main sports event of the planet, testifying that barely more than a day remained to the Games.
The bright sunny day drew the attention of more than 100,000 residents and guests of the city, who greeted the procession with loud cheers, exclamations, slogans and songs, posters and mascots. They sang songs, cheerfully had pictures taken and tried to record each moment of the unique Olympic celebration.
One of the stops for the Olympic Torch Relay was organized beside the new Sochi office of "Ingosstrakh", a Presenting Partner of the Olympic Torch Relay. 34 years ago the insurance company collaborated with the Organizing Committee of the Moscow Olympics, and therefore today it presented all Sochi residents with the chance to have their pictures taken with symbols of the succession of generations and commitment to traditions: the Olympic Torch of 1980 and a legendary Soviet retro automobile similar to the ones that escorted the Torch Relay for the Moscow Games. A colorful, entertaining program with dance and vocal groups from the city created a holiday atmosphere for the event's guests.
On Ordzhonikidze Street along the shore of the Black Sea, the Sochi 2014 Torch was carried by the President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, and the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon. By the Winter Theater, the Passing of the Flame was imprinted by German Gref, the board chairman for OAO "Sberbank of Russia"; Vasily Kiknadze, general director of the non-commercial organization "Sports Broadcasting" that is providing broadcasting of Olympic events; and the television host loved by all, Nikolai Drozdov.
On the coastal shore, the Torch Relay was received by the president of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, Dmitry Chernyshenko. He completed the Flame's two-day journey through the streets of Big Sochi and delivered the symbol of the home Winter Games to the Live Site Sochi, where he lit the Cauldron that had been gifted to the city the previous day by OSAO "Ingosstrakh", Presenting Partner of the Torch Relay.
The President of ANO "Organizing Committee "Sochi 2014", Dmitry Chernyshenko, noted: "The Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch Relay has completed its record-breaking journey through Russia. It has reminded the entire world how large our country is, it has told about its matchless beauty and unique qualities, and about the amazing people that live in it. The Olympic Flame has accomplished a spectacular journey and united the whole country. Each Torch Relay participant - torchbearers, volunteers, organizers, partners, and of course, millions of spectators - has invested a portion of their heart into this project and shared their warmth with one another. And that is the main value of our project."
On the 7th of February the final phase of the Sochi 2014 Torch Relay begins. The Olympic Flame will be carried along the main streets of Sochi and through the territory of the Olympic Park located in the Coastal Cluster. The record-breaking journey of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch Relay will conclude at the Fisht Stadium, where the final torchbearer will light the main Olympic Cauldron.
For further information, please contact the Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch Relay Communications Service at sochi2014.com, OGON@sochi2014.com, or +7 495 984 2014.
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