Malagò: “It is impossible not to be inspired and moved by the weight of the history and tradition”
Giovanni Malagò, in his speech during the Ceremony, emphasized the symbolic importance of the event: “By participating in this ceremony, it is impossible not to be inspired and moved by the weight of the history and tradition that fills the air here, in the heart of our great Olympic Movement. In this very special place, where athletes gathered almost three thousand years ago to compete, we can draw a line that connects the Ancient Games to the Modern ones. Every four years, a flame was lit in honor of Zeus, to acknowledge his status as King of the Gods. As scholars know, it was Zeus who brought unity and harmony to the Earth. And today, as the Olympic Flame begins its journey to Milano Cortina 2026, we celebrate the same ideal, Harmony, a feeling that will unite Italy and the world during the Games that will begin in 72 days. The Ceremony we witnessed and the passing of the Torch create a symbolic bridge between the past and the present. In 1960, the route of the Olympic Flame for the Games in Rome was designed to connect Athens and Rome as centers of ancient civilization. Today, as then, the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Torch relay will honor our shared heritage, passing through the iconic monuments of Imperial Rome, Pompeii, the Appian Way, and the regions of Magna Graecia, creating a story of continuity between Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, and modern Olympism. In the coming weeks, the Olympic Flame will pass through all Italian provinces, sixty cities, three hundred towns, twenty regions, and all UNESCO sites in the country. It will travel from the highest peaks of the North to the Southern coasts, proudly carried by 10,001 torchbearers. The Italian Spirit will shine in the Flame of the torch, lighting up all of Italy and uniting the world with the goal at the heart of the Milano Cortina 2026 mission: creating new opportunities for young people through sport, through the timeless power of the Olympic Games.”
The Olympic Torch Relay
The Torch Relay thus begins the Hellenic phase of its journey, which will last for nine days. Over 450 torchbearers will travel 2,200 km across 23 regional units and 7 regions, with 36 welcome ceremonies along a route that celebrates not only Greece’s cultural heritage but also its deep connection to winter sports, passing through the 12 main ski resorts of the country and its majestic mountainous landscapes. The journey through Greece will conclude on December 4th at the Panathenaic Stadium, the cradle of the modern Games, with the Ceremony for the handover to the Milano Cortina 2026 Organizing Committee. On 6 December, the Torch Relay will begin in Italy, departing from Rome.
The Flame will arrive in Rome on the afternoon of 4 December, from where, two days later, a unique and unforgettable journey will begin: an extraordinary 63-day adventure, with 60 celebratory stops along 12,000 km across 110 provinces and over 300 municipalities. The route will conclude on the evening of 6 February, 2026, in Milan, with the Opening Ceremony at San Siro Stadium.
Accompanying the Flame will be the two Presenting Partners of the Olympic Torch Relay: Coca-Cola and Eni, who will enrich each stop with special activations, helping to make the Journey an even more engaging experience.