2014 Winter Olympics torch relay

The Torches

The 2014 Olympic Torches were unveiled on January 14, 2013, in Moscow. The torch is chrome with red detail, a traditional colour of Russian sport. It was designed by a creative team led by Vladimir Pirozhkov and Andrei Vodyanik and weighs nearly 1.8 kg, is 0.95 m tall, 0.145 m wide, and 0.54 m deep.

The torches failed on at least forty-four occasions during the relay, a failure rate of about 3 percent compared to the average 5 percent at the previous Olympics, and on one occasion, a nearby guard helped light the fire again with a lighter. The People's Front (a movement created and led by Vladimir Putin) has called for a criminal investigation into the manufacturer of the torches, a rocket/missile factory.

Special relay

On October 20, 2013, the torches reached the North Pole for the first time via the nuclear-powered icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy. On November 6, 2013, the torch was flown into space by Soyuz rocket and brought back on November 11. The torch reached Europe's highest mountain, Mount Elbrus, and the depths of Siberia's Lake Baikal.

Route in Greece

September 29 (day 1)

• Olympia, Amaliada, Elis, Pyrgos, Zacharo, Kalo Nero, Tripoli, Levidi, Lefkasi, Kalavryta September 30 (day 2)
• Patras, Rio, Missolonghi, Agrinio, Karpenisi October 1 (day 3)
• Lamia, Volos, Larissa, Katerini October 2 (day 4)
• Thessaloniki, Giannitsa, Naousa, Edessa, Florina, Kastoria October 3 (day 5)
• Grevena, Ioannina, Kalabaka, Trikala October 4 (day 6)
• Karditsa, Lamia, Amfissa, Delphi, Arachova, Livadeia, Athens

Route in Russia

Protests

Gay activist Pavel Lebedev (not to be confused with Russian retired figure skater Pavel Lebedev) was arrested at the relay in Voronezh for unveiling a rainbow flag. When interviewed, he said "hosting the games here contradicts the basic principles of the Olympics, which is to cultivate tolerance".

References

References

1. (8 October 2012). "Russia unveils torch relay route of 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics". English.news.cn.
2. (8 October 2012). "Sochi 2014 Torch Relay to be longest in Winter Games history". Olympic.org.
3. (20 September 2013). "First Torchbearer announced for Sochi 2014 Torch Relay". Olympic.org.
4. (29 September 2013). "Alex Ovechkin excited to carry torch". [[ESPN.com]].
5. (14 January 2013). "Sochi 2014 torch unveiled". Olympic.org.
6. link. (1 November 2013)
7. (30 October 2013). "The magic of Russian Olympic torches". Pravda.ru.
8. Lally, Kathy. (7 October 2013). "Russia's Olympic torch flames out, again". The Washington Post.
9. link. (8 October 2013)
10. Zaccardi, Nick. (20 October 2013). "Sochi Olympic torch relay reaches North Pole". NBC OlympicTalk.
11. de Carbonnel, Alissa. (6 November 2013). "Russian Soyuz rocket flies Olympic torch to space station". Chicago Tribune.
12. (18 January 2014). "Gay Russian protester detained at Olympic relay for rainbow flag". Fox Sports.