The Olympic flame has arrived in Moscow ahead of next year's Winter Games in Sochi that have been marred by protests over Russia's new "gay propaganda" ban.
The cherished symbol of world peace and international camaraderie was lit in Greece's Ancient Olympia on September 29th and officially handed over to a Russian delegation in Athens yesterday.
The torch was taken to Red Square for a cauldron-lighting ceremony overseen by President Vladimir Putin.
The traditional torch relay will start tonight and conclude when the cauldron is lit at Sochi's brand new Fisht Olympic Stadium at the opening ceremony for the Games on February 7th.
Runners will cover 65,000 kilometres as they wind their way across Russia's 83 regions - stopping only to see the torch visit the International Space Station on November 7th to 11th.
