2014年冬季奥林匹克运动会将在俄罗斯索契举行。主办方表示，2014年冬奥会圣火火炬在到达主办城市索契之前，有可能会被传递至国际空间站，进行一次短暂的太空旅行。俄罗斯联邦航天局副局长达维多夫称，把奥运圣火传递到国际空间站是个非常有趣的想法，但是真正实现还需要进一步的研究，“这是个不错的创意，在理论上有一定的可行性”。达维多夫说，国际空间站实验舱内明确规定不准有明火，并且舱内同时有美国、俄罗斯和其他国家的宇航员。但是，俄罗斯联邦航天局并不反对奥运火炬登上太空这个创意。

The Olympic torch rally traditionally spans the world before reaching the host city.

The Olympic flame that will travel the world before reaching the Russian resort town of Sochi for the 2014 Winter Olympics may also a pay a brief visit to space, according to a top official.

An Olympic visit to the International Space Station is an "interesting" idea that requires further study, according to Vitaly Davydov, deputy head of Russia's Federal Space Agency.

"It is not a bad idea," Mr Davydov said. "It is theoretically possible."

The space official admitted that open flames were not allowed on board the international space lab, which is manned by US, Russian and various other astronauts.

But he said that his agency was open to ideas from Russia officials if they do decide to send the torch and flame to space.

Russia has been pulling out all the stops since winning the 2014 Games, a prestige event that the Black Sea resort town won against all the odds on the back of a personal lobbying effort from former President Vladimir Putin.

The Games have been estimated to cost about $31 billion (£19 million).

The Olympic torch rally traditionally spans the world before reaching the host city.

Davydov said Wednesday tradition prevented Russia from taking the novel step of lighting the torch in space from sunbeams.