The Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic flame arrives in Italy from Greece: Rome welcomes the sacred fire with enthusiasm
The Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic flame takes the first step of his Italian journey. After the handover ceremony in the historic Panathinaiko stadium of Athens, the sacred fire took flight towards Rome, where it will remain for the first official events before starting its journey towards Milan, waiting for the opening ceremony on 6 February 2026. The relay will be inaugurated Gregorio Paltrinieriwhich will light up the streets of the capital with emotion after the ceremony at the QuirinalAnd.
From Greece to Italy
The morning in Athens closed nine days of the Hellenic relay, a two thousand kilometer long journey, crossed by 450 torchbearers. The most exciting moment came when Jasmine PaoliniOlympic gold in doubles in Paris 2024, finalist at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, winner of the Italian Internationals in 2025, received the torch from the athlete Giorgos Kougioumtsidis. Immediately afterwards, the baton was passed to the cyclist Filippo Gannagold in the team pursuit on the track at Tokyo 2020 and a two-time medalist at the Paris Games. The Greek water polo player Elena Xenaki he then lit the brazier in the center of the stadium, celebrating the final act of the Greek journey.
Jasmine was enthusiastic of such a prestigious position: “It is an honor and a privilege to be in this position, I was especially moved at the end when I remembered where I am and what I just did because it is a dream for every athlete anyway. I never imagined I could be in this position. I feel truly grateful, excited and happy.”
The words of Giovanni Malagò
During the delivery ceremony, the president of Milan Cortina Foundation, Giovanni Malagòdefined this return of the flame in Italy as “a magical moment”, recalling how twenty years have passed since the last time, Turin 2006: “Today is a magical moment for all of us, we are preparing to bring the sacred Olympic flame back to Italian soil for the first time in 20 years. Being here, in this historic stadium, reminds us of the honor we have been granted and the precious treasure we will take home with us. I would like to thank Greece and the Greek people for the way they have celebrated the start of the torch relay these last nine days. They provided a memorable start to our Olympic and Paralympic journey.”
An emotional tribute also went to the first two Italian torchbearers, Stefania Belmondo And Armin Zoeggelersymbols of an Olympic tradition that continues to shine: “They are two legends of Italian sport. Together they won 16 Olympic medals. Italy is proud of its Olympic tradition. And I feel deeply privileged to be here today as president of Milano Cortina 2026, as we prepare to write the next chapter in Olympic history.”
The arrival in Rome and the next stages
The flight carrying the flame lantern — an ITA Airways Airbus that took off from Athens — is landed in the afternoon at Fiumicino. From there, the torch was carried at the Quirinalewhere the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella officially welcomed her at 6pm. Tomorrow December 5thone celebration in Piazza del Quirinale he will light the celebratory brazier, accompanied by the flyover of the Frecce Tricolori.
From December 6th instead it will officially begin “The Great Journey”the Italian relay that in 63 days will cross all the regions, 110 provinces and 60 UNESCO sites, bringing the flame to the heart of the country. A long history of faces, cultures and places that will intertwine until arriving in Milan, where the Olympic fire will finally open the Games on February 6, 2026. For the moment, we will be content to admire the splendid ceremonies. Then the time will come to enjoy the sport.
