Volgograd residents report discomfort caused by traffic-blocking due to Olympic torch relay

On January 20, at 9:20 a.m., Olympic torch relay started up in Volgograd from Gogol Street. City residents have expressed their dissatisfaction with the difficulties to move around the city, since many streets were blocked.

"Today, I specially came to work at 8 a.m. and not at 9 a.m.," the "Caucasian Knot" was told by Inessa Malinina, a Volgograd resident. She continued: "I also brought my child to school till 8 a.m., and even at that time, there were a lot of cars on the roads. Apparently, people left their homes earlier to be able to get to work prior to the start of the Olympic relay."

Lydia Kovaleva, the editor-in-chief of the independent Volgograd newspaper "Inter", wrote on the website about inconvenience for residents in connection with the Olympic relay and traffic-blocking. She wrote: "The authorities recommended more than million of residents of the city not to use their private car on January 20. The reason is that the Olympic torch relay will be held in the city streets."

According to Lydia Kovaleva, the city is still recovering from the stress after the December terror acts, and it should not be exposed to the stress associated with traffic overflows and congestions of highways. "Please get it right: I have nothing against Olympic flame and the Olympics, and I heartily go for our athletes' achievements. However, I cannot understand: the Olympic Games are for people or the people are for the Olympic Games? Why should the affected city be exposed to stress?" Lydia Kovaleva asks.