Lighting the Olympic Flame for the Winter Olympics in Milan

• The ceremony of lighting the Olympic flame will take place in Ancient Olympia.
• The flame will travel through 60 cities in Italy over the course of 63 days.
• The Paralympic flame will be lit on February 24, 2026.

On February 6, 2026, in Ancient Olympia, Greece, the sacred flame will be lit for the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. The ceremony, which will take place near the Temple of Hera, has been rescheduled due to adverse weather conditions. The organizers moved the event to the archaeological museum of Olympia.

The flame, which symbolizes the purity and tradition of the Olympic Games, will be passed from Greece to Italy. After the ceremony, the flame will begin its journey through 12,000 kilometers, passing through 60 cities in Italy.

The Winter Olympics will take place from February 6 to February 22, 2026, while the Paralympic Games will run from March 6 to March 15, 2026. The main competitions will be held in Milan and the Dolomites.

Weather Problems

Weather is a major concern for the organizers, as sunny conditions are required for lighting the flame. In the event of bad weather, reserve flames, which were lit during the rehearsal, will be used.

First Estafetniks

The first torchbearer will be the Greek wrestler Petros Gaydatsis, and there will also be participation from Italian sportsmen. The flame will pass through significant cultural monuments, including Pompeii.

Olympic Estafeta

The flame will travel through 110 provinces of Italy, including numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites. After lighting the Paralympic flame on February 24, 2026, it will also begin its journey.

Tags: Europe/Sport