The Olympic torch for the 2008 Beijing Games has taken off on its global tour.

The flame arrived in Almaty, Kazakhstan, the first leg on its "Journey of Harmony," on Tuesday.
Nazaroff is one of the torch bearers in the country.

"It's the first time that the Olympic torch has come to Kazakhstan, and Almaty is the first city to welcome the sacred flame. I am greatly honored to pass on the flame for Almaty and for Kazakhstan."

The torch will stay in Almaty for two days before beginning its second leg in Istanbul, Turkey.

The Turkish Olympic Committee has unveiled details about the torch relay in the Turkish largest city.

A senior official with the Turkish Olympic Committee says the sacred flame carried in a small lantern is expected to fly into Istanbul in the early hours on Thursday from Kazakhstan's biggest city Almaty.

The starting point of the 17.8-km relay in Istanbul will be the city's signature Sultan Ahmet Square, where the President of Turkish Olympic Committee Togay Bayatli will light the torch. Then a total of 78 Turkish athletes, artists and media people, along with two diplomats from the Chinese embassy in Turkey, will carry the Olympic torch through the city.

After returning to the European part of Istanbul, the torch will head for the destination, Taksim Square, for the lighting of a ceremonial cauldron. At the end, celebrations and plays will be staged on the square. Then the Olympic flame will go to Russia's St. Petersburg.

Murat Baseskioglu, Turkish top official in charge of sports, sends his country's best wishes to the success of the Olympic torch relay in Turkey.

He also states that Turkey is against linking Beijing Olympic Games with politics.

"Olympic is a culture and sports activity, which has been widely accepted around the world. Therefore, we should hold the Games in sports and cultural fields, instead of politics. This is extremely important to promote and preserve the Olympic spirit."