By Nick Butler

Torchbearers accompany Russian President Vladmir Putin at the beginning of a four month journey throughout RussiaOctober 7 - The Russian leg of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch Relay has opened in a whirl of colour, enthusiasm, and famous participants in Moscow, as well as the occasional unintentional extinguishing of the Flame.


The 65,000 kilometre journey was launched in a ceremony in Red Square attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday.

This followed the Handover Ceremony in Athens the previous day where the Flame was passed from Greek to Russian hands.

In front of hundreds of Muscovites from all backgrounds, including many students and migrant workers, the Relay got fully underway this morning when it was lit by Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin at Vasilevsky Spusk next to St Basil's Cathedral.

It was then passed to two of Russia's greatest ever female Olympians in the five-time synchronised swimming champion Anastasiya Davidova and then the two-time gymnastics gold medallist, and Sochi 2014 Ambassador, Svetlana Khorkina.

Other Torchbearers included the President of the Russian Olympic Committee, Alexander Zhukov, as well as Prince Albert II of Monaco, and the legendary three-time Olympic winning Soviet figure skater Irina Rodnina.

Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a ceremony in the Kremlin in Moscow to begin the Russian leg of the Torch RelayRussian President Vladimir Putin holds a ceremony in the Kremlin in Moscow to begin the Russian leg of the Torch Relay


However, sporting and political figures were far from the only participants, and in a fashion typical of the Torch Relay, Flame carriers came from a wide variety of different backgrounds.

One of these was Vera Kolesnik, an 18-year-old student from Bauman Moscow State Technical University, who described being anxious but also excited at being so involved.

"The Sochi Games have already brought a lot of positive developments into my life in terms of meeting people and being at massive events," she told the Moscow Times.

"I cannot wait to go there as a volunteer."

The mood of celebration withstood several mishaps involving the Flame being unintentionally extinguished mid route.

This first occurred on Sunday when the Flame went out when being carried through the Kremlin's main Gates by the former swimming champion Shavarsh Karapetyan before being relit by a security guard armed only with a cigarette lighter.

The Olympic Flame is relit as it is carried through the gates of the Kremlin in MoscowThe Olympic Flame is relit by an on hand security guard with a cigarette lighter as it is carried through the gates of the Kremlin in Moscow


The Torch's procession has also been accompanied by the official anthem of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch Relay, named "We are all under the sky", which was unveiled and played in Moscow's Red Square during yesterday's Ceremony.

The anthem is sung by members of the band "Kasta" and will be played in the 2,900 towns and villages hosting the Olympic Torch Relay celebration.

After leaving Moscow the Torch will continue on a 123-day journey covering its 65,000km by a variety of different means before arriving in Sochi for the Opening Ceremony on February 7.