September 30, 2013 (Greece) – On 29 September 2013 the Olympic Flame was lit in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games. The professional ice hockey winger & ambassador for Sochi 2014 Olympic Games, member of the juries for the Coca-Cola Torchbearer Nomination Campaign, Alexander Ovechkin yesterday travelled to Olympia to participate in the Olympic Flame Lighting Ceremony and the start of the Olympic Torch Relay. As part of the ceremony, upon the invitation of Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, Ovechkin became the first Russian, and second person to carry the Olympic flame.

Sochi 2014 torch lighting begins... © Sochi 2014

The Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch Relay is presented by Coca-Cola, OSAO Ingosstrakh, and OAO Russian Railways.
Traditionally, the Olympic Torch Relay commences in Ancient Olympia, Greece, where, historically, the Olympic Flame was lit on the eve of the ancient Olympic Games.

As part of the Ceremony, a theatrical performance took place in the ruins of the ancient Temple of Hera. During the performance, priestesses asked the Gods for permission to light the flame.
The Olympic Torch is always lit using the sun’s rays, reflected on a large parabolic mirror which is used to symbolize the approval of the Gods to host the Olympic Games. If the weather is cloudy, the Flame is lit using the Flame obtained during the Ceremony rehearsal conducted the day before.

Alexander Ovechkin became the first Russian, and second person to carry the Olympic flame... © Sochi 2014

The renowned Greek actress, Ino Menegaki, the third time played the role of the High Priestess and asked the Greek God Apollo to send the sun’s rays to earth to light the Flame, and Zeus to crown the winners of the Games with laurel wreaths. The Priestess then lit the Olympic torch from the sun’s rays and passed the torch, and an olive branch signifying peace, to the first Relay torchbearer, the Greek alpine skier Giannis Antoniou. The Olympic Flame then was passed to one of the most celebrated Russian athletes, the ice hockey player Alexander Ovechkin. He became the first Russian torchbearer of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch Relay.

The Lightning Ceremony in Ancient Olympia was attended by IOC President Thomas Bach, President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee Spyros Capralos, President of the Russian Olympic Committee, IOC member Alexander Zhukov, President of Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee Dmitry Chernyshenko.

Alexander Ovechkin, ambassador for Sochi 2014 Olympic Games, and member of the juries for the Coca-Cola Torchbearer Nomination Campaign. © Sochi 2014

The Relay then begins its journey across Greece, which will see 250 torchbearers carry the Flame 2,000 kilometers through 33 towns and 23 regions of Greece over the course of a week. Torchbearers of the Greek Relay leg include Olympic gymnastics champion Ioannis Melissanidis, Olympic silver high jump medalist Niki Bakogianni, and Olympic bronze pole vault medal winner Georgios Roubanis.

The Greek leg of the Relay will culminate in a ceremony on 5 October in the Panathenaikos stadium in Athens, which hosted the first modern Games in 1896, during which the Flame will be entrusted to the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee by the Greek figure skater Panagiotis. The next day, the Olympic Flame will travel to Moscow where it will begin its journey across Russia in the largest relay in the country’s history.

IOC President Thomas Bach said:
“The Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch Relay is a symbol of the spirit and values that motivate the Olympic Movement. As the flame makes its way across the Russian Federation in the hands of 14,000 torchbearers, it will convey a message of peace and the Olympic values to the people of Russia and to the watching world. However, the arrival of the flame in Sochi, on 7 February next year, will not be the end of the story but merely the beginning, as the world’s best winter athletes continue to inspire the world through their actions and spirit during the Games. We wish the Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch Relay great success on its journey.”

The President of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, Dmitry Chernyshenko, noted:
“The torch lighting ceremony in Greece will be the starting point of Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch Relay – the largest national Torch Relay in Olympic history. It will cover more than 65,000 kilometers and unite the country”.

The hockey player & ambassador for Sochi 2014 Olympic Games, Alexander Ovechkin said:
“Thanks to Sochi 2014 and Coca-Cola I am entrusted to carry the Olympic Flame. It is especially honorable for me to be the first Torchbearer of Russia. I’m very happy, and it means a lot to me. I am proud to be at the Lighting Ceremony in Olympia, which will start the biggest national Relay in Olympic history“.