The Sochi 2014 Organising Committee has unveiled the torch that will carry the Olympic flame during the next Winter Games.
The torch was presented by Sochi 2014 Ambassadors Tatiana Navka, and Ilya Averbukh at a ceremony in Moscow.
Developed by a creative team, led by Vladimir Pirozhkov and Andrei Vodyanik, the Sochi 2014 torch is chrome with red detail – red being the traditional colour of Russian sport.
Designed in the shape of a feather, the torch is also reminiscent of the Firebird, or Phoenix – the legendary bird that rose from the ashes and which features prominently in Russian folklore as a symbol of good fortune and happiness.
The torch has been designed with comfort and practicality in mind, with its component parts undergoing rigorous stress testing, and the designers paying particular attention to its flame-lighting system. The torch’s construction ensures that the flame burns reliably in difficult conditions, such as strong winds, heavy frosts and other extreme winter weather conditions.
The torch weighs nearly 1.8 kg, is 0.95 m tall, 0.145 m wide (at its widest part), and 0.54 m deep. Its weight and centre of gravity were carefully calculated to ensure that it would be as comfortable as possible for runners to carry during the Torch Relay.
Fourteen thousand Olympic torches will be produced
The President of the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee, Dmitry Chernyshenko, remarked: “The torch is a key symbol of the Relay: the flame it carries will be the brightest dot on the map of Russia for the duration of the Relay. The Sochi 2014 torch combines traditional Russian motifs with the very latest technical know-how in the field of design. The elegant, extraordinary and radiant Sochi 2014 torch represents Russia's beauty and its multifaceted nature.”
At the presentation ceremony in Moscow, the Organising Committee also unveiled the official uniform for the Olympic Torchbearers who will take part in the Sochi 2014 Relays.
Find out more about the Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch Relay and its Presenting Partners.
