The Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch Relay to continue its route on a train provided by OAO "Russian Railways"
In Vladivostok, the presentation of the train that will carry the Olympic flame on the next leg of its journey by Sochi 2014 Relay Presenting Partner OAO "Russian Railways" took place. At the Station Square, where the city was celebrating the final Relay Celebration of the day, the President of OAO "Russian Railways", Mr. Vladimir Yakunin, personally handed over the lantern containing the Olympic flame to the Keepers of the Flame and presented the train to the Relay team that will continue on the Relay route to the regions of Russia in the third railway segment. It will run from November 16, 2013 to February 7, 2014. During this time, the Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch Relay, which is presented by Coca-Cola, OSAO "Ingosstrakh" and OAO "RZD” will travel a record 17,400 kilometers by rail. Immediately after the presentation, the Olympic Torch Relay set off on its first railway leg to Khabarovsk.
The train, decorated in the style of the official Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch Relay with elements of orange patchwork quilt consists of a locomotive and 11 cars of individual compartment design, including two dining cars and two cars from Relay Presenting Partners Coca-Cola and OSAO "Ingosstrakh", decorated in the individual brand colors of the partners’ companies. 7 train crews will serve the Sochi 2014 Relay Team alternately.
The trainwill depart from Vladivostok (Primorsky Region) and in 83 days will reach thehost city of the XXII Olympic Winter Games - Sochi, having covered a distanceof approximately 17,000 kilometers. It will cross the borders of 53 Russianregions. The Relay will be welcomed by 76 cities of the Far Eastern, Siberian,Volga, Southern and North Caucasian Federal Districts. Approximately 10,000torchbearers, one after another, will pass each other the Olympic Flame. Inaddition to traditional running, torchbearers will also use alternative modesof transportation: motorcycle, underground tram, speedway, ice skates and skis,and dog sledding.
The Sochi2014 Olympic Torch Relay started in Moscow on October 7, 2013, and has alreadyvisited 58 cities. To date the Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch has been carried by4,000 torchbearers, covering a total distance of 873.3 kilometers. The OlympicFlame has illuminated many iconic Russian landmarks, including Rurikovo Gorodishche,Yasnaya Polyana estate, Kizhi State Open-Air Museum, historic suburbs of St.Petersburg, and churches and temples of the Golden Ring of Russia. The Olympicflame also visited the Priobskoe oil field in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District,the largest diamond mine in the world - the Mir kimberlite pipe in YakutskRegion, and the top of Avacha volcano in Kamchatka Region. In addition, for thefirst time ever, the Olympic Torch spent several hours in on a spacewalk.
Dmitry Chernyshenko, the President of Sochi2014 Organizing Committee, noted:
"Today, the longest segment of ourrecord-breaking Olympic Torch Relay begins. On a special Russian Railwaystrain, decorated with the Sochi 2014 patchwork quilt, the Flame will travelfrom the far east of Russia to the Olympic host city, passing through theterritories of 53 Russian regions. The route is formed in such a way that theprincipal symbol of the Games can be seen not only the inhabitants of largecities, but also those is the most remote settlements. Bringing a piece of theOlympic celebration to every home is the main objective of the national TorchRelay."
ThePresident of OAO "RZD" Vladimir Yakunin said:
We are proudof the fact that railway workers created the most modern railway transportservices infrastructure in Sochi, and that the Olympic flame will travelthrough Russia on the train from Vladivostok to Sochi. And when hundreds ofthousands of visitors come to the Olympics and Paralympics in Sochi, they willbe able to easily get to the Olympic stadium in comfortable modern trains.
Notes to the Editor
The Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch Relay
The Olympic Torch Relay got under way inSochi on 7 October 2013. According to the organizers' calculations, 90% of theRussian population will be within an hour's reach of the Torch Relay route atsome time or other, and this means that approximately 130 million Russiancitizens will be able to watch or participate directly in the Relay. In total,it will cover more than 65,000 kilometers, including by car, train, plane,Russian troika and even reindeer sleigh.
The Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch Relay is goingto be the longest in the entire history of the Olympic Winter Games. During theOlympic Torch Relay, 14,000 torchbearers will carry the Sochi 2014 Olympictorch through 2,900 settlements of 83 regions of the country. The Relay willend with the Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony in Sochi on February 7, 2014.
Presenting Partners of the Torch Relay areCoca-Cola, OSAO "Ingosstrakh" and OAO "Russian Railways".
The Presenting Partners for the Sochi 2014Olympic Torch Relay
The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company is the largestproducer in the world of non-alcoholic drinks products. It offers consumersmore than 500 brands of carbonated and non-carbonated beverages. Along with theCoca-Cola brand, which is recognized as the most valuable in the world, thecompany's portfolio includes 15 brands, the value of which amounts to over onebillion dollars.
Thanks to the largest distribution systemin the world, consumers in more than 200 countries around the world enjoyCoca-Cola beverages. Every day, over 1.8 billion portions of the company'sbeverages are sold internationally.
Coca-Cola in Russia – Coca-Cola is one of the biggest investors in the Russian economy. Coca-Cola's level of investment in Russia currently exceeds 3 billion dollars. Beverages with Coca-Cola registered trademarks are produced at 16 modern plants located on Russian territory from Saint Petersburg to Vladivostok (including plants of companies "Multon" and "Nidan").
Coca-Cola Russia, which is an amalgamationof the company Coca-Cola and its partner-bottling company Hellenic, providesemployment for over 15,000 highly qualified staff.
Over the course of over 100 years,participation of Coca-Cola company in sports events across the world has beenand continues to be an integral part of the Company's policy and an importantelement of the business.
Since 1928, Coca-Cola company has been apartner of the International Olympic Committee.
The Coca-Cola Company is preparing to be aPresenting Partner for the Olympic Torch Relay for the ninth time. TheCoca-Cola Company first got involved in organizing the Olympic Torch Relay atthe Olympic Games of 1992 in Barcelona.
For more detailed information about thecompany's activities, please visit the following websites: www.thecocacolacompany.com and www.cocacolarussia.ru
OSAO "Ingosstrakh"
Ingosstrakh Insurance Company has operated in the domestic market since 1947. In 65 years, Ingosstrakh has transformed from a small branch to a large company, a universal insurer at federal level, and is the leader in various types of insurance. Today, branches are located across the country, and there are offices in 310 towns and cities across Russia. Today, the insurance company's clients include over 12 million individuals and more than 400,000 commercial and state companies. Ingosstrakh’s high business reputation is confirmed by Standard & Poor's international rating agency and Russian agency "Expert RA".
The history of interaction betweenIngosstrakh and the sports movement spans more than three decades. ForIngosstrakh, the Olympic Winter Games of 2014 in Sochi are going to be thesecond Olympic Games that the company has supported in our country. 32 yearsago, Ingosstrakh was the supplier of insurance for the 1980 Olympics in Moscow,providing insurance cover both during the preparations for the Games and duringthe competitions themselves. Ingosstrakh actively participated in the insuranceof Olympic venues which were constructed before the 1980 Olympics. At thattime, the Olympic flame was also protected by Ingosstrakh: the company insuredthe athletes' torch relay. The policy was active throughout the entire OlympicTorch Relay.
More than 30 years since the 1980 Olympics,Ingosstrakh has again received this great honor. Since October 2010, it hasbeen a Partner: the official insurer of the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi. Thus,for the second time in its 65-year history, the insurer is supporting one ofthe most important events in the world of sport: the first Olympic Games in thehistory of modern Russia, the mission of which is to unite the country, anddemonstrate the beauty and diversity of Russia to the world.
OAO "RussianRailways"
OAO "Russian Railways Company" isone of the biggest transport companies in the world, with a network consistingof over 85,000 km of railway lines. Every year the company provides transit fora billion passengers and over 1.2 million tons of freight.
In February 2010, OAO "RussianRailways Company" became a General Partner of the Olympic and ParalympicGames of 2014.
The company is implementing a range ofimportant projects related to the construction of new railways and stations inthe region where the 2014 Games are going to be held, all of which are designedto ensure transit of construction material and equipment during thepreparations for the Olympics, and to take competitors and spectators to thecompetition venues.
All the projects being carried out by OAO"Russian Railways Company" are taking place at unique constructionsites, and serve as examples of complex task-solution: they are being createdtaking account of "barrier-free environment" requirements, so thatthey can be used by people with disabilities, with the very latest technologyand "green building" standards applied.
The infrastructure elements on which OAO"Russian Railways Company" is working will form the main component ofthe legacy left by the Sochi 2014 Games. The new railway lines and stationswill significantly improve passenger comfort on rail journeys, and the volumeof passenger and freight transportation by rail will increase.
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