Yamal accepts Olympic flame

In the capital of Yamal – Salekhard – I passed a stage of Relay of Olympic flame. In the morning of the same day Relay was accepted by Novy Urengoy.

The Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area became the 23rd subject of the Russian Federation and the first among subjects of Ural federal district in which territory there took place Relay.

In total 120 fakelonosets were involved in the Yamal stage of Relay. Among those who acquired the honourable right to bear the Olympic torch, there were deserved athletes and trainers, pupils and actors, teachers and electricians, engineers and yard keepers, doctors and artists … On streets of Salekhard – the cities on the Polar circle Olympic flame carried by 60 fakelonosets, also as well as in Novy Urengoy. Among those who received to carry by a torch across Salekhard, there was a deserved trainer of Russia Hamit Akhatov, father Nikolay Kolesnik having many children in which family 16 children are brought up, from them ten – receptions, and now a family are expected by replenishment. And in Novy Urengoy among fakelonosets there was a member of an Olympic team of Russia, the winner of summer Olympic Games of 2012 in London Alexander Sokolov, the master of sports of the USSR on skiing, the master of sports of Russia on winter poliathlon Alexander Dubina.

In Salekhard start of Relay was given in the Obdorsky jail is a historical place: where now there is a wooden ensemble, in 1595 Cossacks put fortress, the history of ancient Obdorska-Salekhard and, in fact, history of further development of the Arctic lands from here began.

Olympic flame on Yamal crossed the 66th parallel, after all Salekhard the only city in the world, located at the width of the Polar circle. By the way, from a stele symbolizing the Polar circle, to the engine of times of the 501st building the Olympic torch passed on a cervine team, conducted which doctor of Salekhard clinical hospital Leonid Kurtyamov.

Bowl ignition in the Ice palace of the district capital became the holiday culmination in Salekhard. The governor of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area Dmitry Kobylkin who executed these honorary duties, noted: "It is very symbolical that today – in Day of national unity – two Yamal cities meet Relay of Olympic flame. Sports not only develop the best qualities in people, but also unite all mankind under eternal symbols of the Olympic Games".

The governor reminded that Salekhard and Novy Urengoy – an outpost of the Arctic and the gas capital of Yamal – became one of 2900 settlements of Russia through which the most large-scale passes in the world Relay of Olympic flame, and noted that the Yamal cities are chosen not casually.

"Exactly here thousand-year traditions of the indigenous small people of the North and the newest technologies of the oil and gas industry are harmoniously combined. Here people who know the price to friendship and mutual assistance work. Here the most large-scale projects of Russia which are urged to strengthen economic power of the state are realized. We are proud of that thus are involved in carrying out the XXII Olympic Games in Sochi! The same as all country, we will support our athletes and to believe in a victory! " – were added by the Head of Yamal.

Dmitry Kobylkin wished that the Olympic flame which has been carried by across Yamal, became a hope and creation beacon for all who trusts in Russia, in its great future.