The Sochi 2014 ambassadors Tatyana Navka, Natalia Vodianova, Ilya Averbukh and Olesya Vladykina unveiled the Olympic and Paralympic torches, as well as the uniforms to be used in the Torch relay, at the GUM shopping centre near the Red Square, Moscow.
The torches, developed by Russian designers and engineers, led by Vladimir Pirozhkov and Andrey Vodyanik, were created identical in shape and size, only differing in colour. They are made of light aluminium and the shape represents the firebird, a traditional character in Russian fairytales. Click here to take a look at them.
The Olympic Torch is matt silver, to represent the ice of the Winter Olympics. The red inner ‘eye’ represents the fire surrounding the Sochi resort.
The Paralympic Torch is sky blue, to represent the strength and spirit of the Paralympic movement.
14,000 Olympic and more than a 1,000 Paralympic Torches will be produced for the Relay, which starts in Olympia on October 7 before arriving in Sochi on February 7 for the Opening Ceremony.
The Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch Relay is set to be the longest in the history of the Winter Olympic Games, travelling 40,000miles.
Bianca Fermi, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
