Sochi 2014 organizers carried out a successful rehearsal Saturday at Ancient Olympia in southern Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Olympics, using the sun’s rays to light the flame for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games.
Actresses dressed as ancient priestesses took part in the rehearsal, lighting the torch using a parabolic mirror. The flame will be kept in reserve for the actual ceremony being held Sunday.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President will be in attendance.
The Russian leg of the torch relay is set to cover 65,000 kilometres (40,390 miles) before the Winter Games February 7-23.
Dmitry Chernyshenko, head of Sochi 2014 said, “the Olympic flame is about to begin an epic journey…travelling all nine time zones of Russia in 123 days. It will be carried by 14,000 proud torchbearers”.
He added, “we can’t wait to start tomorrow. It will be a very exciting moment for us.
“The Olympic torch will travel by reindeer, dog sled, snow mobiles, boats and even hot air balloon and many other vehicles, and of course by foot, by car and tens of thousands of kilometres by train, by plane”.
The flame will be carried into space on November 7, said Chernyshenko.
“It will go to the North Pole by nuclear power icebreaker and yet is will travel to space…and the same torch will be used to light the flame during the Opening Ceremony” he said.
