Hey winter sports fans, guess what? The Olympic flame for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games recently landed in Rome on Thursday, Dec 4! 🇮🇹🔥 After kicking off in Athens, it flew over in a cozy lantern aboard an ITA Airways flight.
On the tarmac, tennis star Jasmine Paolini—fresh off her women’s doubles gold from the 2024 Paris Summer Games—joined Giovanni Malagò, head of the Local Organizing Committee, to carry the flame. “I feel honored. It’s an incredible emotion,” Paolini shared, beaming before the lantern rolled off to the presidential complex.
Today, Dec 5, the flame will light a cauldron at the Quirinale Palace where Italy President Sergio Mattarella resides, with IOC President Kirsty Coventry expected to attend. It’s a perfect blend of Olympic magic and Italian history! 🎇
This Saturday, Dec 6, the real adventure kicks off: a 63-day, 12,000 km torch relay. Starting at Rome’s statue-lined Stadio dei Marmi, 10,001 torchbearers will journey through all 110 Italian provinces before the grand finale at Milan’s San Siro Stadium on Feb 6, 2026.
It’s been almost 20 years since Italy last hosted the Winter Games flame (remember Torino 2006?). Ready your camera roll—this relay is set to deliver epic scenery, local vibes, and serious #OlympicEnergy. Tag your travel crew and stay tuned for the torch’s next stop! 📸✨
Reference(s):
Flame for 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics makes arrival in Italy
cgtn.com
