More than 1,200 artists from 40 regions were part of the project, which gave residents and visitors of London and Sochi the chance to experience Russian music during the 2012 Olympic Games.

The musical offerings were inspired by all parts of Russia, including Siberia to the Far East, North Caucasus and Dagestan in the South, with ancient Adygean songs, Cossack dancing, guttural singing and dynamic Lezginka music being on show to the 100,000 people who witnessed the marathon.

The cultural festival – held at the square on the south pier of the Sochi Marine Trade Port and at Russia.Sochi.Park on Hyde Park in London – united citizens across Russia, the world's most vast country, stretching from Europe in the West to near Alaska in the East.

During the marathon in Sochi the National Russian Forum for Culture was also held.

The Cultural Olympiad is devoted to a different art each year and 2012 is the Year of Music.

The Year of the Cinema was marked in 2010 and 2011 was devoted to theatre, while 2013 will celebrate museums.

Sochi will host the next Winter Olympic Games in February 2014.

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