The Sochi 2014 Olympic Flame in Amur River region

The Sochi 2014 Torch Relay, arrived in Amur Region, completing its journey to the Far Eastern Federal District. 102 torchbearers carried the Olympic Torch today around Belogorsk and Blagoveshchensk, covering a distance of 21.19 km. Among the Olympic torchbearers were nominees of the Sochi 2014 Relay Presenting Partners the Coca-Cola Company, OSAO "Ingosstrakh " and OAO "Russian Railways".

The first city to take the flame at the Olympic Torch Relay in Amur Region was Belogorsk. The first person to carry the torch in Amur River region was master of sports in karate Anna Boychenko.

Spectators were able to not only see branded flags with logos of the Sochi 2014 Relay along the route, but also living dolls. On the streets of the city a real show started, the main characters of which were fairytale and cartoon characters: in front of the torchbearers musketeers took off their hats, they were met by a czar and czarina, masked performers sang songs, "Smeshariki" pleased people with their smiles, and the animals of Madagascar and "live" musical instruments danced in front of the Kiss of Flame, making even the most demanding spectators smile. In addition, athletes rolled out a 12-meter flag of Russia, which accompanied the way.

The final torchbearer of Belogorsk was Vladimir Litvinsev. He lit the Olympic Cauldron, which Belogorsk independently acquired as a memento for the residents of the city.

Next, the Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch Relay moved to the village of Uglegorsk, where construction of the Vostochny cosmodrome is underway. The launch of the first vehicles is already planned for 2015. The Olympic Torch was carried around the territory of the cosmodrome by cosmonaut Yuri Lonchakov.

The Relay then went on to Blagoveshchensk. A solemn meeting of the Russian Railways corporate train was held in the square in front of the train station. The torchbearer of the first city phase was master of sports in cross-country skiing Rita Samoylova, who was met by young hockey players. On Amur Street, the Olympic Torch was greeted by Blagoveshchensk craftswomen - they embroidered a huge patchwork Sochi 2014 Relay quilt. Everyone in the city was able to take part in sewing the patches.

One of the stages of the Sochi 2014 Relay was held in Blagoveshchensk in the Amur waters, where a team of "walruses" staged a swim with the Olympic Torch. Twice record-holder in the long distance category, captain of Russian Winter Swimming Aleksandr Brylin swam 100 meters in what is for most, extremely cold water temperature of no more than 2 degrees. Brylin himself held the burning Olympic Torch in his hand, and his comrades held the flags of Russia and Sochi 2014.

The Relay route partially passed on along the bank, with views of the nearby Chinese city of Heihe. At the end of the Olympic day, torchbearer Marina Gayday carried the Torch through Triumphal Arch, an amazing beautiful architectural creation, modelled on the Arch of 1891. Destroyed by a flood, the Arch was set on the banks of the great Amur River in honour of the city of Cesarevitch Nicholas Alexandrovich, who later became the Tsar Nicholas II of Russia.

On Lenin Square, Relay Presenting Partners Coca-Cola and Ingosstrakh staged a traditional light show. The final torchbearer, master of sports of international class in kyokushin, winner of the Absolute World Championship in Karate Roman Nesterenko lit the Olympic Cauldron, which was presented to the city by Sochi 2014 Relay Presenting Partner Ingosstrakh.

The next destination of the Sochi 2014 Relay will be Chita.

For more information on the Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch Relay, visit Sochi2014.com, or call +7 495 984 2014.As a service to our readers, Around the Rings will provide verbatim texts of selected press releases issued by Olympic-related organizations, federations, businesses and sponsors.

These press releases appear as sent to Around the Rings and are not edited for spelling, grammar or punctuation.

20 Years at #1: