Milano Cortina 2026: Olympic flame lit in Olympia. Buonfiglio: “A special emotion”

OLYMPIC GAMES

26 November 2025

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The sacred fire of Olympia now burns once more, lighting the path towards Milano Cortina 2026. The flame-lighting ceremony for the Winter Olympic Games, scheduled from 6 to 22 February next year, was held at the Archaeological Museum of Olympia, birthplace of the five rings.

The event opened with the national anthems of the Olympic Movement, Italy and Greece, performed by the children’s choir of the Italian School of Athens, and was attended by leading institutional and sporting figures. CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio took part in the solemn ritual alongside Deputy Vice President Diana Bianchedi – who also serves as Chief Strategy Planning & Legacy Officer of MICO2026. Also in attendance were the Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi, IOC Members Ivo Ferriani and Federica Pellegrini, IOC Honorary Member Francesco Ricci Bitti and representatives of the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation.

In his welcome address, Aristides Panagiotopoulos, Mayor of Ancient Olympia, greeted the large gathering of officials by recalling the timeless values that define the world’s foremost sporting event – unity, peace and brotherhood.

Giovanni Malagò, IOC Member and President of the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation, highlighted how “the Italian spirit will shine through the flame of the torch, lighting up the whole of Italy and uniting the world in the common purpose at the heart of Milano Cortina: harnessing the enduring power of the Olympic Games to create new opportunities for younger generations through sport. It will be a privilege to bring the torch once more along the banks of the River Tiber and return it to Rome, retracing the route of twenty years ago during the Torino 2006 Games. Every step will remind us of the power of sport to break down barriers and help build a more sustainable future together”.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry, visibly moved as she attended her first Olympic flame-lighting ceremony in her new role, added: “I shouldn’t be emotional, but this place is special. In a world as divided as ours, the Games provide a symbolic moment, and it is our duty and responsibility to ensure that athletes from across the globe can come together peacefully, inspiring the hopes and dreams of those who follow us. This is the Olympic spirit – upholding the values that guide us”.

The address by Hellenic Olympic Committee President Isidoros Kouvelos paved the way to the ceremony’s most anticipated moment. The Olympic flame – lit days earlier at the Temple of Hera using the sun’s rays according to the ancient ritual – entered the Museum in the hands of High Priestess Mary Mina and her fellow Priestesses, before being passed to the first torchbearer, Petros Gkaidatzis, bronze medallist in the lightweight double sculls at Paris 2024.

Gkaidatzis then shared the torch with Stefania Belmondo outside the Archaeological Museum. Italy was represented by the cross-country skiing Olympic champion and by Armin Zoeggeler, the legendary six-time Olympic medallist in luge, who became the third torchbearer and launched the nine-day Greek relay. Covering roughly 2,200 km and seven regions, the final torchbearer will be Aikaterini Oikonomopoulou, silver medallist in women’s water polo at Athens 2004.

At the close of the ceremony, President Buonfiglio expressed his pride: “When I was elected President of CONI on 26 June, I never imagined I would experience emotions like these. It is an extraordinary privilege to be here today, where the Games were born 2,800 years ago, and to take part once again in the consecration of what the Olympic torch and the Olympic Movement truly represent. I will also have the honour of being a torchbearer in Milan, on the very day of the Opening Ceremony. It’s a flood of emotions, and it reminds me of the responsibility we have taken on – but I’m reassured because the team around me, the federation presidents and the entire sporting community, stand united. With the support of the Secretary General’s staff, our communications and organisational teams, we will play a leading role in these Games, which will once again place Italy at the centre of the world. My dream is for all Italians to cheer for our athletes. It’s a demanding competition, and such a remarkable organisation deserves great success. Italians must make their warmth felt. My dream is for Italy to embrace our Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Belmondo and Zoeggeler? They are legends, and I’m delighted that my choice was shared by everyone. In Athens we’ll have two more icons of Italian sport, and I’m sure they will inspire great enthusiasm”.

There was also a light-hearted moment with IOC Member Federica Pellegrini, who teased him: “Are you worried after seeing how fast the torchbearers had to run today?”. To which Buonfiglio replied: “I had trained for a four-minute stretch,” prompting Pellegrini to laugh and say: “We’ll have to extend that, President”.

CONI is currently represented in Greece by Alessio Boggiatto, world champion in the 400m individual medley at Fukuoka 2001 and winner of 11 European medals. From 1 December, he will be succeeded by Elisa Santoni, multiple Olympic medallist and world champion in rhythmic gymnastics.

The visit to Greece will conclude on 4 December 2025 in Athens, with the Handover Ceremony at the Panathenaic Stadium, where a delegation from the Milano Cortina 2026 Organising Committee will officially receive the Olympic flame and bring it to Italy that same day.

The flame will arrive in Rome on the afternoon of 4 December and, two days later, begin a 63-day journey covering 12,000 km across 110 provinces and more than 300 municipalities. The route will culminate in Milan on the evening of 6 February 2026, with the Opening Ceremony at San Siro Stadium.