The passing of the Olympic flame is a proud tradition for every country and is beginning to turn into a competition to see who can take it to the most unique places. On Saturday, it was Russia’s turn to carry the torch and they decided that it needed to get a little wet. Where is the last place you would think to take a torch that you want to keep lit? How about a lake?
That’s right, the Olympic flame took a dive in Lake Baikal in Russia. The flame was first taken on board a boat on the lake and used to light a special water-resistant torch. The torch was then given to a scuba diver who dove to a depth of 13 metres into the lake and passed it along to two other divers in the lake. It then surfaced and was carried to land by another torchbearer wearing a jet-propelled pack.
Lake Baikal contains 20 percent of the world’s fresh water. Russia is proud of the lake and proud to be the host to the 2014 Winter Games. They will be held at the Black Sea resort of Sochi in February. Russia’s unique and interesting torch display will not likely be forgotten and was a great way to show Russia’s appreciation for being chosen as the host of the Winter Olympics.
If you think the torch has seen the end of its adventures, you are wrong. It will next be traveling to the top of Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe located in Russia’s North Caucasus before it is used to light the Olympic flame at the start of the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Image from YouTube.
