On board icebreaker “50 Years of Victory”, the Olympic flame, lit for the Sochi 2014 Games, reached the heart of the Artic. The milestone in the history of the Games took place on 19 October, 13 days after the beginning of the Torch Relay that will go through approximately 65,000 km in Russian territory. Besides the North Pole, the torch will reach the bottom of Lake Baikal, the top of Mount Elbrus and the International Space Station. The final destination will be Sochi 2014 Opening Ceremony on 7 February 2014.

Eleven researchers from neighbouring countries have been selected to be part of the expedition due to their scientific contributions in the region. Valentine Davydyants, Captain of the icebreaker, took the first leg of the Relay, followed by Lassie Heininen (Finland), Jens Petter Nilsen and Jan Gunnar Winther (Norway), Karen Pat Pitney (USA), Steingrimur Jonsson (Iceland), Stephen Podborski (Canada), Ylva Sjöberg (Sweden), Marcus Christian (Denmark), Elena Kudryashov and Artur Chilingarov (Russia).

Watch the video of the torch’s arrival to the North Pole here!