Sochi, 5th February – the Olympic Flame arrived at the Olympic village in Sochi, Russia, on Wednesday, where, on Friday, the 2014 Winter Olympics will start.

This is not the only first in the 2014 Olympic Flame Relay, which has seen the torch carried for some 65,000 km during its 123 day journey across the entire span of Russia.
This was the first time that the Olympic torch has reached the North Pole, and space, with a trip to the International Space Station.

The flame also went underwater in Lake Baikal, and then Europe’s highest peak, Mount Elbrus in the Caucasus, before reaching Sochi.

A solemn ceremony, attended by IOC President Thomas Bach and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, and the Olympic teams, including athletes and officials, has been organised at the Olympic village.

Two days ago Bach spoke at another ceremony at the Village, urging compliance with the “Olympic Truce,” a symbolic resolution asking warring parties to cease hostilities during the Games.