Olympic torch to go into space

Russia scaled back its ambition to send the Sochi 2014 Olympic flame into space on Monday but promised the next best thing: an unlit torch aboard a rocket bound for the International Space Station, RIA Novosti reports.

Russian Olympic Committee chief Alexander Zhukov suggested earlier this year efforts would be made to send the flame into space as part of its 123-day tour of Russia, beginning in October.

"Our ambition to conquer space for the first time ever in Olympic history is becoming reality," Sochi chief organizer Dmitry Chernyshenko tweeted on Monday. But the torch will remain unlit throughout the voyage because of safety regulations on board the ISS, RIA Novosti reports with reference to Vladimir Popovkin, the head of Russia's space agency.