Paralympic Torch Relay -- Flame Visits Ural Region

The Paralympic torch relay visited the Ural Federal District in its tour westward towards Sochi Friday.

In the Ural District, the flame toured Yekaterinburg, Tyumen, Khanty-Mansiysk, and Noyabr’sk. In total, 195 people carried the torch as it moves closer to the European part of Russia.

In Yekaterinburg, the flame was lit in a stone bowl modeled after a flower from five metallurgical plants, which helped develop the region. In Tyumen, the flame was lit from the "feature of the firebird" during a performance of "The Little Humpbacked Horse."

Khanty and Mansi indigenous people had the responsibility of lighting the torch in Khanty-Mansiysk as part of a special ceremony. Finally, a "shaman" ignited a cauldron in Noyabr’sk so that the first relay participant could light his torch from the bowl.

Saturday, the torch will travel to St. Petersburg, Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, Cherepovets, Petrozavodsk, and Kaliningrad, where it will journey around the North-West Federal District of Russia.

Throughout the day, 125 people will carry the torch in the six cities.

A ceremony in Stoke Mandeville will be held simultaneously tocelebrate the birthplace of the Paralympic Games and movement. Eight people will carry the torch in England.

Sunday, the torch will travel through the Central Russian Federal District, where it will visit cities around Moscow.

The Paralympic torch relay will take place over 10 days in 45 cities across all of Russia. Around 1,500 torchbearers are expected to run with the torch.

Written by Aaron Bauer

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