Sochi Unveils Olympic Torch, Relay Uniforms

(ATR) A feather of a magic bird is the inspiration for the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic torches.

Explaining their choice of design, organizers said the torch combines motifs of Russian folklore with technological advancements to "reflect Russian hospitality, and the joyful and inspirational atmosphere" of the torch relay.

"The torch is a key symbol of the Relay," Sochi 2014 President and CEO Dmitry Chernyshenko said in a statement. "The Sochi 2014 torch combines traditional Russian motifs with the very latest technical know-how in the field of design. The elegant, extraordinary and radiant Sochi 2014 torch represents Russia's beauty and its multifaceted nature."

The torches were unveiled at a ceremony in Moscow on Monday. The main differences between the Olympic and Paralympic torches is that the Olympic torch is white and red – the Russian color for sport, according to Sochi 2014 – and the Paralympic torch is white and sky blue, said to represent "the strength of character inherent in the Paralympic movement."

At the ceremony, Sochi 2014 also unveiled the uniforms for both relays.

Small Quake Hits Sochi

A magnitude 3.8 earthquake struck Sochi over the weekend.

Media reports said that tremors could be felt in some of the bigger buildings in Sochi. Russian scientists say the epicenter was 22 miles off the coast in the Black Sea.

Four earthquakes have struck Sochi since December, all of them minor and not causing significant damage to any Olympic venues or infrastructure.

Tree Hits Khutor Ski Lift

A tree fell on a ski lift line at Rosa Khutor, the venue for skiing at the Sochi Olympics.

No one was hurt, but 75 people were evacuated.

Written by Ed Hula III.

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