By Duncan Mackay

Coca-Cola sign_to_be_presenting_partner_of_Olympic_Torch_Relay_Sochi_September_21_2012September 22 - Sochi 2014 have announced that Coca-Cola and Ingosstrakh will be the presenting partners of the Olympic Torch Relay, which is set to be the longest domestic relay in the history of the Games and which could see a first if plans to launch the Torch into space came to fruition. 


The Torch Relay is due to begin on October 7, 2013, and will cover 40,000 kilometres of Russian soil, an unprecedented area for one individual country.

There are aplans in place to take the Torch to the world's deepest lake, Lake Baikal, and Mount Elbrus, the highest mountain in Europe, standing at 5,642 metres, as well as firing it into space.

Coca-Cola have been supporting the Torch Relay since Barcelona in 1992, including the most recent Games, London 2012, and this will be the ninth Winter Olympics in which they will have acted as a presenting partner. 

They hope to replicate the success of London 2012 by creating a celebratory atmosphere over the course of the entire route of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch Relay, organising entertainment, sports and music events along the way.

Coca Cola_London_2012_Torch_RelayCoca-Cola played a major role in the success of the London 2012 Torch Relay

"The agreement signed today is of great importance to us, and Coca-Cola is proud of the opportunity to once again be a partner of the Olympic Movement and the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games," said Zoran Vucinic, President of Coca-Cola's Russia, Ukraine and Belarus Business Unit.

"We are honoured to bring the Olympic Torch Relay to Russia and to give the chance to every person in this great country to become a part of history.

"The Olympic Flame is a continuous symbol of unity, equality and optimism, which brings people together.

"And at Coca-Cola we are pleased to be able to carry this symbol throughout the country, igniting the hearts of millions people all around Russia."

For Ingosstrakh Sochi 2014 represents a return to the Olympic Games.

They were the main insurer of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. 

They will offer insurance for the Sochi 2014 Torch Relay and will also sponsor entertainment in cities as the event travels around Russia. 

Sochi 2014_sign_presenting_partner_of_Olympic_Torch_Relay_Sochi_September_21_2012Ingosstrakh's Aleksey Sokolov (left) signs the agreement with Sochi 2014 President Dmitry Chernyshenko to become a presenting partner of the Olympic Torch Relay as Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak looks on

"The Olympic Torch Relay is a significant event for Russia," said Aleksey Sokolov, Ingosstrakh's deputy director general.

"It shows that the Oympics are more than just a sporting event and that the Games bring people close together.

"We are glad to be able to support the Olympic Torch Relay, and to enable all those wishing to become part of the forthcoming Olympics to feel its unique atmosphere, be inspired by its positive energy, and get warmed-up for the Olympic competitions and some magnificent sporting victories.

"We will involve our regional offices all over Russia in this project and will invite all of our colleagues, partners, clients, and all Russians to take part in the Relay.

"Some may even get a once-in-a-lifetime chance to carry the Olympic flame.

"What is particularly pleasing is that this is the second time in its 65-year history that Ingosstrakh has supported the Olympic Games in our country. 32 years ago, the company was the general insurer of the 1980 Olympics.

"We carefully safeguard our traditions and are sure that this time, we will once again be able to carry out all the obligations we have taken on in good faith, and give people a party that they will remember for many years to come."

The deal was signed during the XI International Investment Forum in Sochi and took place at a special ceremony attended by Dmitry Kozak, Russia's Deputy Prime Minister.

"We are delighted that market leaders like Coca-Cola and Ingosstrakh are supporting the Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch Relay," said Dmitry Chernyshenko, President and chief executive of Sochi 2014. 

"Coca-Cola is not only the longest continuous partner of the Games but also one of the most loyal Partners of the Olympic Torch Relay.

"And thanks to Ingosstrakh we can be sure that our Relay will be reliably insured.

"I'm delighted that we've been able to assemble such a strong team."

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March 2012: Exclusive - Sochi 2014 boss promises "spectacular" Torch Relay as ambitious plans are unveiled
July 2011: Olympic Torch to cross final frontier as Sochi send it into space