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Sochi Olympic flame

Summary

30 September 2013

The longest ever Olympic torch relay for the Winter Games in Sochi has begun. The flame was lit in Greece using the sun's rays. It will travel 65,000 kilometres, including a visit to the International Space Station in November.

Reporter:

Jonathan Josephs

Report

Dressed in cream-coloured, shoulderless, pleated dresses, 21 high priestesses perform an elaborate dance routine. The actresses were surrounded by the ruins of the Temple of Hera in Olympia - the site of the ancient Olympics.

As they moved in carefully choreographed routines, the torch for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi was lit.

Tall construction cranes still hang over Sochi's Olympic stadium. There are concerns over whether the venues will be ready for February. Despite recent backing from a leading IOC official, locals are split.

By the time the Olympic flame arrives at Sochi's opening ceremony, it will have taken its first ever trip to space and visited nearly 3,000 different places in Russia. But questions remain as to whether it can truly inspire equality for all.