Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


                    UN Chief Carries Olympic Torch in Sochi

   U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon took part in the Olympic torch relay
   Thursday, one day before the Winter Olympic Games officially open in
   Russia`s Black Sea resort city of Sochi.
   International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach passed the torch
   to Mr. Ban next to the Sochi River.
   Bach said he was glad to send an "Olympic message of peace and
   understanding."
   Fans cheered both men as they carried the Olympic flame toward Fisht
   Olympic Stadium, where opening ceremonies promising to be spectacular
   will be held on Friday.
   Earlier Thursday in Sochi, Mr. Ban condemned anti-gay discrimination
   and called on warring parties worldwide to observe an "Olympic truce."
   He indirectly referenced a new Russian law banning the spread of "gay
   propaganda" among minors -- a law critics say can be broadly
   interpreted to crack down on support of gay rights in general.
   Mr. Ban said the the Olympic Charter outlines the International Olympic
   Committee`s opposition to any form of discrimination. He said "hatred
   of any kind must have no place in the 21st century."
   Meanwhile, qualifying rounds began Thursday in sports including women`s
   slopestyle snowboarding, one of 12 new Winter Olympics events debuting
   in Sochi. Women`s freestyle skiing and team figure skating were also
   scheduled to begin Thursday.
   On the security front, officials are on high alert for possible
   terrorist attacks linked to the Olympic Games. U.S. homeland security
   officials are warning airlines flying to Russia to watch out for
   toothpaste tubes that may be filled with bomb-making materials.
   The officials said there is no specific threat at this time.
   On Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Aleksandr Lukashevich
   called media reports about the threats of explosives on flights to
   Russia a "misunderstanding." He also said President Vladimir Putin has
   said full-scale measures are being taken to guarantee security at the
   Sochi Olympics.
   Islamic extremists have threatened to disrupt the games. A jihadist
   group from Dagestan claimed responsibility for the two suicide attacks
   that killed 34 people in Volgograd late last year.
   Russian authorities have spent an estimated $2 billion to shore up
   security in advance of the Sochi Olympics.
   ###
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/un-chief-carries-olympic-torch-in-soc
   hi/1845772.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/un-chief-carries-olympic-torch-in-sochi/1845772.html