Sochi Games officials accept Olympic flame amid small protest
A few dozen protesters staged a peaceful rally in Athens on Saturday as Russian officials accepted the Olympic flame for the upcoming 2014 Sochi Winter Games.
The protesters oppose against Russia’s anti-gay legislation, which threatens prosecution for promoting gay rights around minors or in public displays.
The flame, officially relighted earlier this week, traveled on a seven-day journey through Greece before being handed over to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak in a ceremony at Athens’ Panathinaiko Stadium, the Associated Press reported.
It will now be transported to Moscow to begin an unprecedented 40,000-mile relay through the host country, finishing in Sochi for the start of the Games on Feb. 7.
This marks the second time that Russia has hosted the Olympics. The first time -- the 1980 Moscow Summer Games -- was boycotted by the U.S.
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