Olympic flame moves to Georgia’s mountains

The Olympic flame has left the land of Georgian wine and is continuing its journey across the mountainous Kazbegi municipality by the helicopter.

On June 12 the Olympic flame will be flown to Georgia’s remote Kazbegi area. From there the Olympic torch will continue travelling around Georgia before reaching capital Tbilisi on July 14 for the official opening of the 2015 European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF), commonly known as Tbilisi 2015.

Yesterday torch bearers carried the flame into the Telavi municipality, in Kakheti - the winemaking heart of Georgia.

We kept our promise, the symbol of the Olympic Games has entered every Georgian family,” said the chairman of the Tbilisi 2015 Committee Alex Akhvlediani.

The Olympic torch was lit in Athens – the oldest city of Greece and the home of the Olympic Games – on May 26 to mark the beginning of the EYOF 2015, as well as symbolically recognising Georgia’s Independence Day. The Georgian journey of the Olympic flame started from the Black Sea coastal city of Batumi on the same day.

On May 28, the flame travelled across the mountainous Adjara region and continued its path to southern Georgia.

On May 29, torch bearers carried the flame into the Adigeni and Akhaltsikhe municipalities, and on May 31 the flame visited Aspindza and Akhalkalaki.

On June 1 the Olympic flame arrived at Ninotsminda, on June 2 at Tsalka, Tetritskjaro and Dmanisi, while on June 3 the Olympic flame visited Bolnisi and Marneuli.

On June 4, the flame travelled to the Gardabani municipality and Tbilisi’s neighbouring town Rustavi.

The EYOF 2015 will see more than 4,000 youth athletes from 49 European countries descend on Georgia’s capital to participate in nine sports: judo, tennis, artistic gymnastics, track cycling, track and field athletics, swimming, volleyball, handball and basketball.