Today, on the easternmost point of Russia, on Dezhnev Cape, the Paralympic Torch was launched.

Today, on the easternmost point of Russia, on Dezhnev Cape, the Paralympic Torch was launched. Fire was lit at 5:10 am (local time) by the champion of the 2012 London Paralympic Games, 17 years old Andrey Gladkov. He passed the Torch to Valentin Etton, the Chukotka region champion and prize winner in Nordic Sports. Today, the Torch will travel through five cities; Anadur, Vladivostok, Magadan, Khabarovsk and Yakutsk. During following 10 days, prior to the opening of XI Winter Paralympic Games in Sochi, the Torch will travel throughout 45 Russian cities, with more than thousand people carrying it. Among other famous Paralympic torchbearers’ are outstanding Paralympic athletes as well as organizers and representatives of charitable foundations, public figures and dignitaries such as Natalia Vodyanova, Diana Gurskaya, Sergei Shilov, three-times Paralympic champion Olga Brusnikina, two-times Paralympic champion Fedor Trikilich, and many other. On the March 7, 2014, the Torch will light the Paralympic Fire at the Fisht stadium at the solemn Opening Ceremony of XI Winter Paralympic Games in Sochi. Traditionally, Paralympic Games are being held just after Olympic Games, since 1988, but these are first Paralympic Games ever being held in Russia. We hope that wonderful tradition will take roots for future international Paralympic events in our country.