MOSCOW, October 9 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s beleaguered Olympic torch, which has gone out so many times along its ambitious route that a pro-Kremlin lawmaker has called for an investigation, made a debut appearance Wednesday at national police headquarters.
The country’s top cop, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, called the event historic and applauded the achievements of athletes affiliated with his agency. Speaking at a ceremony to greet the torch, he said that over the past 20 years such competitors have won 41 Olympic gold medals, 37 silver and 34 bronze – a tradition rooted in the Soviet era, when various state agencies, including the army and police, maintained official ties with particular sports teams and facilities.
Kolokoltsev noted that Russian police are taking part in events linked to next year’s Winter Games in the Russian resort of Sochi in more traditional ways as well, with 137,500 officers and Interior Ministry troops providing security for the ongoing torch relay.
