Olympic Torch Relay held in Bolgar

On December 30 First Tatarstan President, State Counsellor Mintimer Shaimiev and Head of Spassky municipal district Kamil Nurgaev took part in a solemn Olympic Torch Relay ceremony in Kazan.

Upon arriving in Kazan by a special train, the torch was sent to Bolgar by hovercraft along the Volga river and then to Commemorative Memorial by car.

Mintimer Shaimiev congratulated citizens of Bolgar on taking part in Sochi-2014 Olympic Torch Relay and called it the greatest historical event.

He expressed his hope that the Olympic Torch Relay will be successfully held at next stages.

After the ceremony of lighting up the Olympic Torch, the relay officially started at 10.40 a.m.

Honoured Masters of Sports in Track and Field Athletics, champion of the XXIX Olympic Games in Beijing, world record-holder Gulnara Galkina-Samitova was the first torchbearer.

The relay route was laid through the whole territory of Bolgar Museum Reserve stopping at Museum of Bread and White Mosque.

Head of Spassky Municipal District Kamil Nugaev thanked Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov and Mintimer Shaimiev on behalf of citizens.

Afterwards, the torch was sent to Sviyazhsk.