Olympic Flame Begins Journey to Milan-Cortina 2026 Despite Weather Disruptions

Olympic Flame Lighting Ceremony

• ☀️ The Olympic flame was lit by the sun's rays in Olympia, a ceremony with over 2,500 years of tradition.
• ⚠️ The ceremony was moved up by two days due to fears of bad weather, with the flame sheltered from the elements.
• 💧 The International Olympic Committee president expressed the symbolic importance of the games in a divided world, emphasizing the duty to ensure peaceful athlete gatherings.

Torch Relay Route and Milestones

• 🗺️ The flame will travel nearly 12,000 kilometers, starting in Greece and then moving to Italy.
• 🤝 A handover ceremony will take place in Athens next Thursday, marking the transition to the Italian leg of the relay.
• 🇮🇹 In Italy, the relay commences in Rome two days after the Athens handover and will traverse all Italian provinces.

Journey Through Italy

• cities, 300 towns, 20 regions, and all UNESCO sites will be visited during the Italian relay.
• ⛰️ The flame will journey from the northern peaks to the southern shores, carried by 10,01 torchbearers.
• ❄️ After a stop in Cortina on January 26th, the flame will reach Milan's San Siro Stadium for the opening ceremony on February 6th, 2026.