Astrakhan completes Olympic Torch Relay

On January 26, Astrakhan hosted a stage of the Olympic Torch Relay. The torch was carried by 112 persons, and the event was ended with a concert and fireworks.

The number of torchbearers included Pavel Astakhov, Commissioner for Children Rights, and actress Anastasia Zavorotnyuk, a native of Astrakhan. The Olympic Flame bowl was lit by Elena Shalamova, who won the gold medal in the group exercises in rhythmic gymnastics at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000.

According to the Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) for the Astrakhan Region, the event of the Olympic Torch Relay was watched by 123,000 residents and visitors to the city of Astrakhan. During the Olympic Torch Relay, public order was ensured by more than 2000 of law enforcers.

The length of the relay was more than 20 km. The Olympic Flame visited the Astrakhan main attraction the Belokamenny Kremlin. At the end of the relay stage, the Olympic torch was transported in a royal carriage and a camel, a champion of the Astrakhan Region.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on January 21, the Olympic Torch Relay was held in Volgograd with enhanced security measures. On the same day, the Cossack cavalry met the fire of the Winter Olympic Games in the Rostov Region.