ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece (AP) — A ceremonial flame is ignited at a temple in Ancient Olympia to mark the beginning of its journey to the Winter Olympic Games. This time, the flame will have its ceremonial lighting on Wednesday for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, connecting the ancient origins of the games with modern global competition. The flame will travel from Olympia, the birthplace of the original games, to Milan's San Siro Stadium, where the opening ceremony will take place from February 6 to 22, 2026.
The lighting of the Olympic flame involves a choreographed ceremony deeply rooted in tradition. Utilizing a concave mirror, sunlight is focused onto the tip of a torch to create the flame, which symbolizes purity and continuity from ancient times. However, organizers face challenges related to weather conditions, particularly the necessity for direct sunlight. If the skies are overcast, alternative arrangements will be made using a flame that was pre-lit during rehearsal. Organizers also keep copies of the flame stored in a lantern throughout its journey to relight torches that may extinguish during the relay.
The ceremony centers around a meticulously planned performance led by a high priestess and her ensemble of performers dressed in costumes inspired by ancient Greek aesthetics. The high priestess orchestrates the event with precise gestures and synchronized movements across the uneven landscape of Ancient Olympia. An essential moment in the ceremony involves a call for "sacred silence" before invoking Apollo, the god of the sun, to light the sacred torch for Milan and Cortina, while also seeking peace for all people through Zeus.
The Olympic flame will embark on a 63-day relay across Italy, covering 12,000 kilometers and visiting 60 cities and 110 provinces. Approximately 10,000 torchbearers are set to participate in this Italian leg, culminating in the opening ceremony at San Siro Stadium. Each winter Olympics is marked by a unique torch design; this year, the "Essenziale" torch, crafted in Italy, emphasizes sustainability through its use of recycled aluminum and renewable gas, along with a bio-based polymer handle.
In parallel to the main Olympic flame, the Paralympic flame will commence its own journey on February 24, 2026, leading up to the Winter Paralympics scheduled from March 6-15, 2026. This flame will be ignited at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in England, the birthplace of the Paralympic movement where the first wheelchair athletes' competition took place. The flame will cover 2,000 kilometers in an 11-day period before joining fire produced during various Flame Festivals across Italy, ultimately culminating at the opening ceremony at Verona Arena on March 6.
This sequence of events reflects a continued commitment to honor the traditions associated with both the Olympic and Paralympic Games while showcasing Italy’s cultural heritage through the journey of the flames.
