Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games Flame lit at Cape Dezhnev

The Paralympic Torch Relay began today in the Far Eastern Federal District. The Flame of the Paralympic Games was lit for the first time at Cape Dezhneva – the easternmost point of the continent and the first part of Russia to greet the dawn. The Presenting Partners of the Paralympic Torch Relay are the Coca-Cola Company, OSAO "Ingosstrakh" and OAO "Russian Railways" and "VOLKSWAGEN Group Rus."

The first spark of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games was ignited as part of a special project of the Paralympic Torch Relay at Cape Dezhnev, a remote point on the Chukchi Peninsula. The Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games Flame was lit with the first rays of the rising sun over the Russian Federation during a projection show at 5:10 a.m. local time. The time in Moscow was 9:10 p.m., February 25.

The first torchbearers in Chukotka were Andrei Gladkov, a 17-year-old athlete with a musculoskeletal disability, winner of the London Paralympic Games in swimming, winner of the Order "For Merits to the Fatherland" II class; and Valentina Etton, winner of numerous prizes, competitions and championships in Chukotka in northern decathlon and the daughter of a maritime hunter. They exchanged the Flame of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games, thus kicking off the most unusual and innovative Torch Relay in the history of the Paralympics.

A video of the lighting of the Flame at Cape Dezhneva will be made available later in a special dispatch.

Also on February 26, the lighting of the Paralympic Flame will kick off the Relay in cities of Russia's Far Eastern Federal District: Vladivostok, Yakutsk, Magadan, Anadyr and Khabarovsk.

The Sochi 2014 Paralympic Torch Relay

The upcoming Relay promises to be the most innovative and unusual in the history of the Paralympic Games. Each day, the Paralympic Flame will be lit simultaneously in several cities of one of the Russian federal districts. The method of lighting the Flame will change in each region and be a surprise, since each torch Lighting Ceremony will be unique: from the sun's rays, from a hammer and anvil, from a Russian stove, and even from a spark of a volcano! The urban stage will feature a unique process of lighting the Paralympic Flame.

A total of more than 15,000 torchbearers and 4,000 volunteers will take part in the Paralympic Torch Relay. The Relay slogan of "Overcoming. Winning. Inspiring." was chosen for good reason. Paralympic athletes, in spite of everything, find the strength to overcome all difficulties and continue to fight. Participating in sports competitions gives them the joy of victory. Every day they break stereotypes, inspire and instill confidence, exciting fans and viewers worldwide. They all share life stories of overcoming that embody the Paralympic values ​ of courage, equality, determination and inspiration.

A unique Paralympic Flame Uniting Ceremony will be held in Sochi on March 5.

The Relay will conclude at the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Games at the Fisht Olympic Stadium on March 7, 2014.

Three special projects are also planned as part of the Relay:

For the first time, the Paralympic Flame will be lit at Cape Dezhneva - the easternmost point of Russia and all Eurasia and the first part of Russia to greet the dawn. For the first time, one of the stages Sochi 2014 Paralympic Torch Relay will be held in the British town of Stoke Mandeville in the county of Buckinghamshire – it is considered the birthplace of the Paralympic Games. The "Russian Knights" Aviation Group will perform aerobatics in the sky over Moscow Region and draw the symbol of the Paralympics – Agitos.

All information about the Paralympic Torch Relay, including the selection of torchbearers, can be found on the special Sochi 2014 Paralympic Torch Relay website: torchrelay.sochi2014.com.

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