The flame will travel through Greece before a handover ceremony in Athens, followed by a 63-day relay across Italy that will end on February 6, 2026, at the Games’ opening ceremony in Milan.
The first torchbearer was Greek rower Petros Gaidatzis, a bronze medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Italy was represented at the ceremony by two former winter sports stars: two-time Olympic cross-country skiing champion Stefania Belmondo and Armin Zoeggeler, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in luge.
Greek water polo player Elena Xenaki, a member of the national team that won gold at this year's World Aquatics Championships, will be the final torchbearer in Greece and will light the cauldron at Athens’ Panathenaic Stadium.
"The flame is going to do a little tour around Greece and arrive in Italy on December 6 for a 63-day journey," said retired figure skater Valentina Marchei, who heads the Ambassadors Program for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
"It will cover 12,000 kilometers and more than 60 cities," she told Danuta Isler ahead of Wednesday's ceremony.
The 2026 Winter Olympics will be held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo from February 6 to 22.
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