11 October 2013, 13:50
Chechen authorities allocate 15 million roubles for the Olympic Torch Relay
As reported by the Chechen Ministry for Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism, the republic's authorities plan to spend 15 million roubles for the ceremony of the torch relay for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. In the territory of Chechnya, the torches with the Olympic Flame will be carried by 40 persons.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the first stage of the All-Russian Olympic Torch Relay was launched on October 7 in Moscow. The route of the longest Olympic Torch Relay in history will pass through 2900 dwelling settlements of all the 83 subjects of the Russian Federation.
"With the Olympic Torch Relay we'll get another opportunity to demonstrate to the people of Russia and the world the wealth of our region and the cultural traditions of the Chechen people, and, thus, to destroy the stereotypes," the press service of the head and the government of the Chechen Republic quotes Khaidar Alkhanov, the Minister of Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism, as saying.
"It is clear that the right to carry Olympic torches will be given not only to our well-known athletes, but also to the retinue of the head of the republic – such a small circle of special people," said Aslan, an activist of a local NGO.
Grozny residents agree that the Chechen stage of the relay will be very spectacular and bright. However, some of them told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that they were not particularly interested in the Olympic Torch Relay, as opposed, for example, to the issues of housing and utility tariffs.
We can add here that the team of Chechnya took the first place in the overall standing of the 4th "Caucasian Olympics", which ended on October 8 in Pyatigorsk and brought together more than 360 top athletes from all over the North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD).
Author: Muslim Ibragimov Source: CK correspondent
