OLYMPIC FLAME IGNITED ONCE AGAIN FOR THE 2026 WINTER GAMES IN MILAN AND CORTINA D’AMPEZZO
Ten weeks remain until the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, but the excitement for the occasion is already strong. After being kindled in Greece, the Olympic flame is en route to Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, the Italian cities that will host the games in February of next year. As is typical, the Olympic flame goes via torch relay, in which 10,001 torchbearers, made up of athletes and members of the public, take turns jogging with the flame until it reaches its final destination—the opening ceremony. This time, on February 6, 2026, the tournament will be held at the famous San Siro stadium.
Greek rower Petros Gaidatzis was the first torchbearer, receiving the flame from the High Priestess (played by Greek performer Mary Mina) during a ceremony in Olympia, the Olympic Games. He was subsequently joined by Italian cross-country skiing medallist Stefania Belmondo for a joint leg of the relay. On its trip to Athens, where the handover ceremony is scheduled for December 4, the torch is presently passing through Greece. After being delivered to a commission from Milano Cortina 2026, the flame will arrive in Rome, and will visit 60 cities and 300 towns in Italy, including the islands of Sardinia and Sicily.