MANILA, Philippines – The Olympic torch relay race travelled to Russia’s remotest regions last week, marking some of the most important stops in its 65,000-kilometer journey. The Olympic symbol arrived at Russia’s diamond capital Mirny, where it was accompanied by trucks. The torch was then lowered into the quarry, where sportsmen continued the relay around the mine. Later, the torch relay participants endured the harsh climates of Magadan, a place where winters are prolonged, with up to six months of sub-zero temperatures. The torch relay also ran through the industrial city of Norilsk in Russia’s Siberia, a city considered to be one of the most polluted in the world. The Sochi Olympic Flame has also reached the North Pole for the first time in history. -- Mornings @ ANC, November 12, 2013.