N-icebreaker 50 Years of Victory sets off form Murmansk to N. Pole (photo)
On October 15, 2013, Rosatom's icebreaker 50 Years of Victory left the port of Murmansk to the North Pole in order to deliver the Olympic flame of Russia’s first Winter Games, IAA PortNews journalist reports.
The farewell ceremony commenced with the musical greetings of the military band of RF Navy’s Northern Fleet. The Olympic flame was placed at the scene in front of the icebreaker.
Industrial climbers from Murmansk jointly with the specialists from the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee and Rosatomflot had prepared the icebreaker for the voyage. Additional equipment had been installed onboard the ship, banners with the Olympic symbols had been placed on the icebreaker.
According to Vyacheslav Ruksha, Atomflot Director General, this is a historical event, as for first time in history the Olympic flame will be lit at the Geographical North Pole with the participation of Russia’s fleet of nuclear icebreakers.
Artur Chilingarov, the honored Arctic and Antarctic explorer and the expedition leader notes that it is the first time in history that the Olympic flame will visit a place known as the "top of the world".
“I believe that carrying the Olympic flame to this very place is highly symbolic given that the Olympic values have endured for hundreds of years," Chilingarov said.
The Olympic Torch Relay will involve sportsmen and polar explorers from Russia and other countries of the Barents Euro-Arctic Region who contributed a lot into the exploration of the Arctic and the conservation of its resources. The North Pole Relay leg will be conducted on board the icebreaker and on the ice cap. The official Lighting Ceremony will take place at the Geographical North Pole.
The Olympic flame arrived at Murmansk on October 14. It was delivered by the plane. Total length of the route will make some 5,000 km.
