Sochi 2014 Paralympic Torch Relay arrives in the North-western District of Russia

Today the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Torch Relay travelled to cities of the north-western Federal District. Torchbearers lit and passed the Flame to each in seven cities - St. Petersburg, Arkhangelsk, Cherepovets, Kaliningrad, Murmansk and Petrozavodsk. Among the torchbearers of the Sochi 2014 Relay were the Presenting Partners nominees - the Coca-Cola company, OSAO "Ingosstrakh", OAO "Russian Railways" and Volkswagen Group Rus.

In St. Petersburg, the flame of the Sochi 2014 Paralympics was lit on the Strelka of Vasilyevsky Island near the famous Rostral Columns. 64 torchbearers took part in the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Torch Relay. They include: London Paralympian in powerlifting Tatiana Smirnova, founder of the St. Petersburg wheelchair dancing sports club "Dance on Wheels" Elena Lozko, co-founder of the "Coming Out" Foundation for Assistance Solving Autism in Russia Lyubov Arkus, and Anton Kharitonov, a young man with autism whose personal history the country learned through documentary by Lyubov Arkus, "Anton's Right Here." The vibrant completion of the Relay's city stage in St. Petersburg was the Paralympic Cauldron Lighting Ceremony. A festive concert was held on the stage of the sports complex featuring St. Petersburg collectives. The final torchbearer, 2012 Paralympic Games champion in track and field Evgeny Shvetsov, lit the Cauldron.

In Kaliningrad, 22 torchbearers took part in the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Torch Relay. They include: world champion in curling for athletes with impaired hearing Olga Yaroslavtseva, world and European champion in arm wrestling for athletes with physical disabilities Alexander Akayev, co-world champion in powerlifting Alexey Larin, and the recipient of three Orders of the Red Star and a veteran of the Afghanistan war Yuri Fedorischev. In anticipation of the start of the Torch Relay, the Flame was lit during a theatrical performance from the main asset of the Kaliningrad Region - an amber stone in the Amber Museum. The final celebration in Kaliningrad surprised spectators with a brilliant ice show by Olympic champion Artur Dmitriev, after which the Cauldron was lit.

The Republic of Karelia met the Sochi 2014 Torch Relay in Petrozavodsk. 15 torchbearers passed the Flame to each other and ran along the historic district and waterfront of Lake Onega. Among the torchbearers were Dmitry Zolin, Russian Championship medallist in 2012 in alpine skiing for persons with physical disabilities, Oleg Stepanov, member of the "Kamchatka 2013. Overcoming" expedition who conquered the volcano Gorely, and Semen Ksenyk, winner of three World Games. The spark for the first Torch was produced by a glowing horseshoe forged by the hero of the epic "Kalevala" - an Ilmarinen blacksmith. The cheerful completion of the procession was a final concert during which the Cauldron was lit by Marina Krutysheva, winner of the Russian Championship in orienteering for persons with physical disabilities.

In Arkhangelsk, 12 torchbearers were the main heroes of the Paralympic Torch Relay. They include: coach Vyacheslav Sadovnikov, participant in track and field marathons and all-Russian mass starts Natalia Alexeeva, coach and teacher at the Novodvinsk Home - a boarding school for children with severe intellectual development disabilities - Sergei Kirikovich, and Russian Championship winner and medalist in track and field for veterans Leonid Kazantsev. As part of the Lighting Ceremony, which reflected the genuine traditions and customs of Pomor, the Paralympic spark was produced from wood fungus. The final celebration of the city stage of the Relay took place on the set of a fabulous ice palace surrounded by ice sculptures. At the climax, the final torchbearer, London 2012 Paralympic Games champion Svetlana Sergeeva, lit the Cauldron.

The Paralympic Torch Relay travelled to the city of Cherepovets in the Vologda Region. The Flame was lit during a theatrical performance from a forged Firebird feather made by master craftsmen in the old forge on Cathedral Hill. Among the 17 torchbearers in Cherepovets were the winner of the Deaflympics and European champion in soccer for hearing-impaired athletes Ruslan Seitkereev, winner of the world and European championship in goalball Anna Shevchenko, and chairman of the regional public organization "All-Russian Society of the Disabled" Leonid Kryukov. During the city celebration audiences were entertained by performance groups, and the final torchbearer - multiple Russian, European, and world medalist and London Paralympian Alexander Kurzin - lit the Cauldron at the event's climax.

In Murmansk, 17 torchbearers took part in the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Torch Relay. They include the coach of Valery Kolmykov, Spartakiade winner in cross-country skiing for people with disabilities, participant of military operations in Chechnya Mikhail Marshakov, and multiple winner and medalist in sports competitions at various levels Sergei Sizyukhin. The Flame was lit by reindeer herders during a theatrical performance of a symbolic Northern Lights. Upon completion of the city stage of the Relay, torchbearer Larissa Ryabysheva lit the Cauldron.

After extinguishing the Cauldron, the ceremony of the transfer of sparks to Sochi was held. During this ceremony, the symbolic Fire was transferred to the host city of the Paralympic Games, as the Paralympic Flame Lighting Ceremony will be held in Sochi on March 5 in the Olympic Park.

For further information, please contact the Press Service for the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee:

sochi2014.com | media@sochi2014.com | +7 495 984 2014

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