Torch Relay Update -- Flame visits Pryazha; Torch Mishap

The Sochi Olympic torch relay travels south through Pryazha and Olonets. A combined nine torchbearers will participate in these stages of the torch relay.Pryazha is around 600 miles north of Moscow while Olonets is approximately 544 miles north of Moscow.

The flame will continue its trek to St. Petersburg as it heads toVeliky Novgorod on Thursday.

Veliky Novgorod is approximately 329 miles northwest of Moscow, and around 121 miles southeast of St. Petersburg.The flame will arrive in St. Petersburg on Sunday.

Altogether, 14,000 runners will carry the torch across a total distance of 38,525 miles.The flame is making its way through 83 towns and cities before heading back into European Russia, and ultimately Sochi for the 2014 Winter Olympics opening ceremony on February 7.

Torch Eruption

The Sochi Torch Relay suffered another setback last Friday.

During the stop inKostroma, the torch malfunctioned, spouting flames close to a meter in height. Sochi 2014 CEO Dmitry Chernyshenko confirmed the malfunction saying, "there were no burns; the torch did not explode in the hands of the participant," in a statement.

For a brief moment it appeared the body of the torch lit on fire as well. Sochi 2014 has ordered16,000 torches for the relay.

Click here for video of the incident.

Written byNicole Bennett.

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