Paralympic Torch Relay -- Flame Starts in Far East

The Paralympic torch relay opened in Cape Dezhnyov,Russia's "easternmost point," on Wednesday.

The flame was lit simultaneously in five cities in the far eastern region of Russia following the first ceremony at Cape Dezhnev.The list of cities included Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, Yakutsk, Magadan and Anadyr.

RIA Novosti points out that the trek for the Paralympic torch is typically shorter than the relay of the main Olympic flame.

The 2014 Olympic torch relay traveled a record 56,000 kilometers in 123 days. Its journey included a stop at the North Pole and a spacewalk outside the International Space Station.

The Paralympic committee says more than 1,500 torchbearers will carry the flame across the country.

According to RIA Novosti, the torch is visiting 45 more cities across all eight of Russia’s federal districts before ending in Sochi for the Paralympic opening ceremony on March 7.

Written byNicole Bennett

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