Sochi

The torch takes its cue from Russian folklore: it is shaped like a feather from the famous Firebird. The color red is also a reminder of Russian nationality, while the blue is reminiscent of the sea and the cold. My route was full of spectacular settings: I touched all 83 regions of the Russian Federation, reaching as far as the geographic North Pole, and was carried by torchbearers, caravans of cars, trains and planes. An unlit torch was even used by two Russian astronauts for a spacewalk. That same torch was later used to light the huge cauldron outside the Olympic stadium. The Sochi Games were the first modern Olympics to be hosted by Russia, and they were eagerly anticipated by President Vladimir Putin. However, the event was marred by tensions between Russia and Ukraine, and Ukrainian athletes chose to participate despite these political tensions. The extensive remodeling of the entire territory to create new facilities and installations for the event made it the most expensive Olympics in history, with a total cost of $51 billion.