By Nick Butler

Actress Dina Korzun and visually impaired singer Diana Gurtskaya carry the Paralympic Torch in Moscow ©Anadolu Agency/Getty ImagesMarch 2 - Momentum is building with just five days to go until the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Paralympics after the Flame marked the mid-point of its ten-day journey by visiting Moscow.


After starting this morning at the All-Russia Exhibition Centre, the Flame undertook a 21-kilometre journey, during which it passed landmarks including Moscow State University, the Vorobyovy Hills and the Moskva River Embankment before reaching the Luzhniki sport complex.

A special concert was then held before a festive Flame Lighting Ceremony, after which the Flame was put inside a lampion to be sent to Sochi.

The Paralympic Flame being lit in the Moscow Central Exhibition Centre this morning ©Anadolu Agency/Getty ImagesThe Paralympic Flame being lit in the Moscow Central Exhibition Centre this morning ©Anadolu Agency/Getty Images



In front of a good number of spectators, a total of 120 people carried the Torch across the Russian capital, encompassing past, present and aspiring Paralympians, as well as officials, coaches and teachers.

Among the bearers was television presenter Dina Korzun, the visually impaired singer and Sochi 2014 Ambassador Diana Gurtskaya and four-time Paralympic medal winning biathlete and cross-country skier Vladimir Kiselev.

As many as 270 volunteers were also involved. 

London 2012 Paralympic swimmer Andrey Meshcheryakov, the first to carry the Torch, described the experience as "a great feeling and a great honour".

"The Paralympics are a huge event for Russia, a chance to show what we can do, to show that we are able to organise such a competition at the highest level," he added.

"And I'm sure that our Paralympians are ready to reach the same result as our Olympic team."

Many Russians took to the streets of Moscow to watch the Torch Relay as hopes remain high that the Paralympics will be as well attended as the Olympics ©Anadolu Agency/Getty ImagesMany Russians took to the streets of Moscow to watch the Torch Relay as hopes remain high that the Paralympics will be as well attended as the Olympics ©Anadolu Agency/Getty Images


Although markedly less long than the mammoth four-month Olympic version, the Paralympic Torch Relay is still travelling through all eight federal districts of Russia after beginning in Eastern port city of Vladivostok last week. 

Unlike the Olympic one, the Flame is also lit simultaneously in several cities and this means that today, on the same time as its visit to Moscow, the Flame will also visit 11 other cities in Central Russia, including Tula, Yaroslavl and Tambov. 

Last night a special heritage Flame was also lit in Great Britain at Stoke Mandeville Stadium to signify its founding role in the history of the Paralympic Movement and this heritage Flame will visit Trafalgar Square in London this evening for another Ceremony. 

All the various different Flames are then due to converge in Sochi on Wednesday (February 5) ahead of a final unified section of the Relay before the Opening Ceremony of the Games two days later.