Olympic torch lit on Mount Elbrus, Russia's highest point

Olympic torch was lit in Russia on 1 February 2014 at its highest point on the western peak of Mount Elbrus, the highest peak Of Russia, which also is the highest peak of all of Europe. The torch was lit by two experienced mountain climbers at a height of 5642 meters above sea level a week before the opening of the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.

Two mount climbers named Alpinists Abdul-Khalim Elmezov and Karina Mezova (who serves as president of a local climbing federation) climbed the western peak of the mountain in the northern Caucasus at the end of October 2013 carrying the flame in a special lantern. With this the last of four special projects in the biggest torch relay in Olympic history was completed.

As per the organizers, the relays Elbrus part was planned separately to ensure the best possible weather conditions for the climb. The other three special projects of torch relay that has been completed are
• Visit of the relay torch to the International Space Station
• Visit of the North Pole
• Visit to the Siberia’s Baikal Lake

After the completion of the four steps of the project, the torch will arrive to the resort of Sochi in the Black Sea for lighting-up of the Olympic cauldron at the Games opening ceremony on 7 February 2014.