The Olympic flame for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Games arrived in Italy, marking the beginning of the ceremonies that will precede a spectacular national tour. The flame, carefully guarded in a lantern, landed at Rome's Fiumicino Airport around 5:00 PM on Thursday, according to the Noticias Argentinas news agency. It was received by prominent figures, including Italian Olympic tennis champion Jasmine Paolini and Giovanni Malagò, president of the Milan-Cortina 2026 organizing committee. A symbol of unity and future Hours after its arrival, Italian President Sergio Mattarella received the flame at the Quirinale Palace. From there, the flame will embark on a 60-day journey covering 12,000 kilometers across the entire peninsula: Scale: It will pass through more than 300 municipalities, include celebrations in 60 cities, and illuminate all 110 Italian provinces, passing through numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites. Participants: Over 10,000 torchbearers from various fields, including sports, culture, film, and civil society, will take part in the event. Key Dates: The flame will celebrate Christmas in Naples and New Year's in Bari. It will return to Cortina d'Ampezzo on January 26, 2026, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Winter Games. The relay will conclude on February 6, 2026, with the lighting of the cauldron at Milan's San Siro Stadium, marking the start of the Winter Games. This official act marks the opening of the events that will culminate in the official lighting of the cauldron on Friday morning, in a ceremony attended by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President of the International Olympic Committee, Kirsty Coventry. Malagò described the arrival as a moment of great emotion, assuring that the flame will become a symbol of 'enthusiasm, harmony, and collective participation, reminding us of the unique power of sport to unite, inspire, and build the future.' The historic tour of Italy The official torch relay will begin on Saturday morning at the Stadio dei Marmi in Rome.
