Flame to Tour Troubled Volgograd; Torch Visits Three Cities

Torch to Tour Volgograd

In the past few days, two suicide bombings have killed at least 31 people and injured close to 70 in the city of Volgograd.

The torch relay heads to Volgograd on January 20. Volgograd is approximately 430 miles away from Sochi, where the 2014 Winter Olympics will be held from February 7 to February 23.

A representative for the relay declined to comment on how this will affect security plans for the flame's visit to Volgograd, but did tell Around the Rings thatsafety and security for the Sochi 2014 torch relay will remain of "paramount importance."

He added, "We are confident the Games in Sochi are going to be safe and comfortable for all."

Flame Tours Three Russian Cities

The Sochi Olympic torch relay began on Monday in the "ancient city of Bolgar, " approximately 627 miles east of Moscow.

Olympic middle-distance runnerGulnara Samitova-Galkina was the first to carry the flame in Bolgar.

The torch then traveled 163.2 miles north to the city ofSviyazhsk, where a small number of torchbearers ran with the flame.

Day 85 of the torch relay concluded in the city of Kazan. Sochi 2014 says over 350 torchbearers will participate in the leg of the relay through Kazan including Olympians such asVasily Mosin,Yelena Migunova, andSvetlana Demina.

The relay resumes in the city ofIzhevsk on Thursday. According to Sochi 2014, organizers have already "approved 153 torchbearers" for the relay route inIzhevsk. The line-up will include Olympic cross-country skierGalina Kulakova.

Overall, 14,000 runners will carry the torch across a distance of 38,525 miles. The flame is making its way back into European Russia, and ultimately Sochi for the 2014 Winter Olympics opening ceremony on February 7.

Home page photo from Sochi 2014

Written byNicole Bennett

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