US EditionUnder a Cloud, the Olympic Flame Begins Its Journey to the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics
The flame was lit indoors at Ancient Olympia due to heavy rain, beginning a 12,000 km relay with over 10,000 torch-bearers across Greece and Italy to Milan 2026.
- On Monday, the Olympic flame was lit during the rehearsal at the Archaeological Museum of Ancient Olympia, with organisers saying it will serve as the official torch after Wednesday’s indoor ceremony was delayed by rain.
- Forecasts of clouds and continuous rainfall meant sunlight could not ignite the parabolic mirror, so the Hellenic Olympic Committee said the Ancient Stadium ceremony was impossible.
- Greek actress Mary Mina acted as high priestess, presenting an olive branch while sunlight focused through a concave mirror lit the flame and Petros Gaidatzis became the first torch‑bearer.
- From Olympia the flame will begin a roughly 12,000-kilometre torch relay through Greece and Italy, carried by more than 10,000 torch-bearers toward Milan for the Winter Games opening.
- The relay and Games blend ancient ritual with modern logistics as the 2026 organising committee plans 2.4 million cubic metres of artificial snow using 948,000 cubic metres of water amid Alpine snow cover decline.
78 Articles
78 Articles
The ceremony was marked by the emotion of the new president of the International Olympic Committee, who called for friendship and respect and defended the possibility of athletes to "convene peacefully".
The Olympic torch for the Winter Games began on Wednesday its long journey in Olympia, Greece, towards Milan-Cortina, in Italy, a ceremony full of emotion that was disturbed by meteorology.
Lighting the Spirit of the Games: The Olympic Flame Ceremony of 2025
OLYMPIA-GREECE-On 26 November 2025, at the storied site of Ancient Olympia in Greece, the Olympic flame for the upcoming Milano‑Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics was officially lit, marking the beginning of a long journey that will end in Milan, Italy, the evening of 6 February 2026. (Olympics) This year’s lighting took place inside the Archaeological Museum of Olympia, a break from tradition driven by unfavorable weather forecasts. Rather than the c…
The Olympic flame began its journey on Wednesday to the Winter Games of Milan-Cortina, although it lacked some of its usual magic. The bad weather that struck the west of Greece forced the organizers to move the ceremony of ignition of the torch to the interior, from the old stadium and temples of Olympia to a nearby museum. The flame is lit by focusing the rays of the sun with a concave mirror. But with the cloudy sky, the officials used a flam…
2026 Winter Games torch relay sets off
OLYMPIA, Greece - New International Olympic Committee chief Kirsty Coventry fought back tears on Wednesday as she urged nations to come together in the 2026 Winter Games, as the torch relay set off from ancient Olympia in Greece.
Franziska Preuß talks openly about her future a few weeks before the Olympics. Of course: after the Winter Games, a lot could happen.
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