Winter Olympics torch relay nears end of trek to Sochi

Feb 4, 2014

Winter Olympics torch relay nears end of trek to Sochi

Kalani Gordon 0 Comment Olympics Olympics, Sochi, Torch Relay

Russian torchbearers started in October the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi. The relay took the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad.

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on November 12, 2013, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows a torchbearer carrying his torch at Russia’s Pacific Kamchatka peninsula, some 6766 kilometers (4204 miles) east of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter relay on October 22, 2013 and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, shows torchbearers carrying an Olympic torch to the Elbrus Mount in Russia’s North Caucasus region. Russian torchbearers has started in October 2013 the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of February’s Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on November 26, 2013, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows Russian mountain-climber Vladimir Gunko rising an Olympic torch while standing atop of a rock at the Stolby (Pillars) national nature reserve in the Siberian Krasnoyarsk region, some 3500 km (2174 miles) east of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter relay on October 22, 2013 and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, shows torchbearers carrying an Olympic torch to the Elbrus Mount in Russia’s North Caucasus region. Russian torchbearers has started in October 2013 the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of February’s Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: The Soyuz-FG launch vehicle with Soyuz TMA-11M spacecraft of the International Space Station (ISS) Expedition 39 aboard (partly seen R) is transported to a launch pad in the Russian-leased Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, on November 5, 2013. The Soyuz TMA-11M with an international crew, including Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin and US astronaut Rick Mastracchio, and with an unlit torch of Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic aboard is scheduled to blast off to the ISS from Baikonur on November 7. The torch is scheduled to return back to Earth on November 11. (kirill Kudryavtse/AFP/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on November 2, 2013, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows torchbearers, Maria Iovleva (L), a Russian biathlete and cross-country skier representing Russia at the 2010 Winter Paralympics, and Ivan Volzhanin (R) ‘kissing’ with their torches to pass the Olympic flame in Syktyvkar, 1300 km (812 miles) north-east of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on November 14, 2013, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows musicians of Nivkh indigenous ethnic group wearing their traditional costumes and rising Kalni musical pipes during welcome ceremony for the Olympic flame in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk airport on the Russia’sPacific Island of Sakhalin 7309 km (4542 miles) east of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on November 25, 2013, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows a torchbearer skiing with his torch at a ski resort near the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, some 3500 km (2174 miles) east of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on December 3, 2013, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows a torchbearer carrying an Olympic torch in Russia’s Siberian city of Barnaul 3400 km (2012 miles) southeast of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on December 3, 2013, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows a torchbearer carrying an Olympic torch in Russia’s Siberian city of Barnaul 3400 km (2012 miles) southeast of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on December 7, 2013, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows torchbearers hugging each other in Russia’s Siberian city of Novosibirsk, about 2800 km (1750 miles) east of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on December 7, 2013, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows ice-swimmers pouring buckets of cold water over themselves to greet a torchbearer carrying an Olympic torch in Russia’s Siberian city of Novosibirsk, about 2800 km (1750 miles) east of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on December 9, 2013, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows torchbearers jumping in Russia’s Siberian city of Omsk, 2243 km (1394 miles) of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on December 11, 2013, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows a torchbearer rides with an Olympic torch in Russia’s Siberian city of Tyumen 2144 km (1332 miles) east of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on December 11, 2013, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows a torchbearer riding with an Olympic torch in Russia’s Siberian city of Tyumen 2144 km (1332 miles) east of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on December 11, 2013, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows a torchbearer moving on a wire with an Olympic torch in Russia’s Siberian city of Tyumen 2144 km (1332 miles) east of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on December 16, 2013, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows a torchbearer carrying an Olympic torch at a Railway Museum in Russia’s Urals city of Chelyabinsk, 1500 km (932 miles) east of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on December 17, 2013, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows a torchbearer riding a motorbike with an Olympic torch in Russia’s Urals city of Chelyabinsk, 1500 km (932 miles) east of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on December 18, 2013, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows torchbearers ‘kissing’ with their torches to pass the Olympic flame in Russia’s Urals city of Chelyabinsk, 1500 km (932 miles) east of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on December 21, 2013, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows torchbearer posing for a photo with children in Ufa, the regional capital of the Volga River region of Bashkortostan, about 1200 kilometers (750 miles) east of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on December 22, 2013, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows a torchbearer carrying an Olympic torch in the city of Orenburg, about 1300 kilometers (800 miles) southeast of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on December 24, 2013, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows torchbearers, Russian World gymnastic champion Alexey Nemov (L), and footballer Sergey Efimov (R) ‘kissing’ with their torches to pass the Olympic flame in in the Volga River city of Togliatti, some 800 km (497 miles) southeast of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on December 31, 2013, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee showsa torchbearer carrying an Olympic torch in the Volga River city of Kazan, some 720 km (450 miles) east of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October 2013 the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of February’s Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on December 31, 2013, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee showsa torchbearer carrying an Olympic torch in the Volga River city of Kazan, some 720 km (450 miles) east of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October 2013 the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of February’s Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on December 31, 2013, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee showsa torchbearer carrying an Olympic torch in the Volga River city of Kazan, some 720 km (450 miles) east of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October 2013 the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of February’s Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on January 2, 2014, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows torchbearers ‘kissing’ with their torches to pass the Olympic flame in Izhevsk, some 1000 km (625 miles) east of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October 2013 the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of February’s Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on January 2, 2014, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows a torchbearer skiing with an Olympic torch in Izhevsk, some 1000 km (625 miles) east of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October 2013 the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of February’s Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on January 8, 2014, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows torchbearers ‘kissing’ with their torches to pass the Olympic flame in in the Volga River city of Nizhniy Novgorod, 440 km (250 miles) east of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on January 14, 2014, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows torchbearers ‘kissing’ with their torches to pass the Olympic flame in the ancient Russian city of Yelets, some 380 km (237 miles) south of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on January 14, 2014, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows a torchbearer carrying an Olympic torch in the ancient Russian city of Oryol, some 360 km (220 miles) southwest of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on January 22, 2014, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows torchbearers carrying an Olympic torch in the city of Rostov-on-Don, some 1,000 km (600 miles) south of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October 2013 the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on January 23, 2014, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows a torchbearer carrying an Olympic torch in Russia’s North Caucasus city of Pyatigorsk. Russian torchbearers has started in October 2013 the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A torchbearer carries an Olympic torch during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay in the southern Russian city of Stavropol, on January 23, 2014. Russian torchbearers has started in October 2013 the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Danil Semyonov/AFP/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on January 25, 2014 and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, shows a torchbearer carrying an Olympic torch in front of a Buddhist shrine in Elista, the capital of Kalmykia region, some 1600 km (1000 miles) southeast of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October 2013 the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of February’s Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on January 25, 2014 and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, shows a torchbearer holding an Olympic torch during a welcome ceremony in Elista, the capital of Kalmykia region, some 1600 km (1000 miles) southeast of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October 2013 the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of February’s Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on January 25, 2014 and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, shows Kalmyk dancers performing to welcome the Olympic flame arrival in front of a Buddhist shrine in Elista, the capital of Kalmykia region, some 1600 km (1000 miles) southeast of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October 2013 the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of February’s Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on January 25, 2014 and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, shows Kalmyk girl wearing traditional costume during a ceremony to mark the Olympic flame arrival in front of a Buddhist shrine in Elista, the capital of Kalmykia region, some 1600 km (1000 miles) southeast of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October 2013 the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of February’s Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on January 26, 2014, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows a torchbearer riding a camel in the Russian Caspian Sea port of Astrakhan. Russian torchbearers has started in October 2013 the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on January 26, 2014, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows torchbearers ‘kissing’ with their torches to pass the Olympic flame in the Russian Caspian Sea port of Astrakhan. Russian torchbearers has started in October 2013 the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on January 27, 2014, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows dancers wearing traditional costumes of the North Caucasus ethnic groups while performing at a stadium, the site of the torch relay, in Makhachkala, the capital of Russia’s troubled southern republic of Dagestan. Russian torchbearers has started in October 2013 the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on January 27, 2014, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows torchbearers walking past actors wearing traditional costumes of the North Caucasus ethnic groups at the site of the torch relay in Cherkessk, the capital of Russia’s southern Karachay-Cherkess republic. Russian torchbearers has started in October 2013 the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on January 28, 2014, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows Chechnya’s leader Ramzan Kadyrov (R) helping a little boy to hold an Olympic torch during the torch relay in the Chechen capital Grozny. Russian torchbearers has started in October 2013 the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on January 28, 2014, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows Chechnya’s leader Ramzan Kadyrov taking part in the torch relay in the Chechen capital Grozny. Russian torchbearers has started in October 2013 the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on January 28, 2014, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows blind singer Diana Gurtskaya carrying an Olympic torch in the Chechen capital Grozny. Russian torchbearers has started in October 2013 the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter relay on October 25, 2013 and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, shows torchbearers carrying an Olympic torch at the Elbrus Mount in Russia’s North Caucasus region. Russian torchbearers has started in October 2013 the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of February’s Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on January 30, 2014 and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, shows torchbearers ‘kissing’ with their torches to pass the Olympic flame in the company of horsemen wearing traditional costumes in Vladikavkaz, the capital of Russia’s North Caucasus region of North Ossettia. Russian torchbearers has started in October 2013 the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of February’s Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on January 30, 2014 and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, shows a horseman wearing traditional costume of Russia’s North Caucasus region in Vladikavkaz, the capital of North Ossettia. Russian torchbearers has started in October 2013 the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of February’s Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter relay on January 30, 2014 and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, shows a torchbearer carrying an Olympic torch at a stadium in Vladikavkaz, the capital of Russia’s North Caucasus region of North Ossettia. Russian torchbearers has started in October 2013 the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of February’s Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter relay on January 30, 2014 and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, shows torchbearers carrying an Olympic torch at a stadium in Vladikavkaz, the capital of Russia’s North Caucasus region of North Ossettia. Russian torchbearers has started in October 2013 the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of February’s Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter relay on October 22, 2013 and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, shows torchbearers carrying an Olympic torch to the Elbrus Mount in Russia’s North Caucasus region. Russian torchbearers has started in October 2013 the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of February’s Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter relay on October 22, 2013 and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, shows torchbearers carrying an Olympic torch to the Elbrus Mount in Russia’s North Caucasus region. Russian torchbearers has started in October 2013 the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of February’s Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: A handout picture taken during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay on November 26, 2013, and released by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee shows Russian mountain-climbers (L-R) Vladimir Gunko and Iliya Efremov ‘kissing’ with their torches to pass the Olympic flame while standing atop of a rock at the Stolby (Pillars) national nature reserve in the Siberian Krasnoyarsk region, some 3500 km (2174 miles) east of Moscow. Russian torchbearers has started in October the history’s longest Olympic torch relay ahead of Winter Games in Sochi, which will take the flame across the country through all 83 of its regions, including extreme locales such as Chukotka, the remote region in Russia’s Far East, the turbulent North Caucasus, and even Russia’s European exclave Kaliningrad. (Sochi 2014/Getty Images)

: Torchbearer Muslim Khuchiev takes part in the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay near a mosque in the Chechen capital Grozny, January 28, 2014. Sochi will host the 2014 Winter Olympic Games from February 7 to February 23. Picture taken January 28, 2014. (Sochi 2014/REUTERS)

: Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov (C) takes part in the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch relay in the Chechen capital Grozny, January 28, 2014. Sochi will host the 2014 Winter Olympic Games from February 7 to February 23. Picture taken January 28, 2014. (Sochi 2014/REUTERS)

: Torchbearers Mikhail Malyuga (L) and Alexander Zaldostanov hold Olympic torches during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics torch relay in Volgograd January 20, 2014. (Sochi 2014/REUTERS)

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