SOCHI, September 19 (Itar-Tass) - Sochi Olympic medals, destined for the best of the 2014 winter games, will be within reach of residents of all Russian regions who might not only have a close look at them, but also touch them with their own hands.
Moscow, St. Petersburg and Sochi were the first cities where residents enjoyed the sight of the medals at simultaneous presentation ceremonies in the three cities.
In October, the medals will travel to 12 more destinations with a population of under one million, said Aleksei Aleksandrov, spokesman for the jewellery company working as partners with the games organisers, speaking to Itar-Tass on Thursday.
"The games have gained the status of the most open in the history of the Olympic movement. We want to show the medals to everyone in Russia, to all those who will support our athletes. Not all of them will be able to travel to Sochi," Aleksandrov said.
Before the games open, the medals will be on display at the biggest stores of Adams jewellers across Russia. Sochi is the city where the medals will end their journey for delivery to the games' organisers on the eve of the opening ceremony.
"I wish that most of the precious awards, whose value is measured not only by the material of which they are made and the skills applied, should never leave our enormous Motherland and stay with the Russian Olympic heroes forever," the firm's representative said.
The jewellers will make 1,254 awards for the games. They include 98 sets for winners of the seven Olympics events and 72 sets for best athletes in five Paralympics catgegories.