The Olympic Flame set off on its next great journey as Greece handed its light to Italy, marking the start of the long road to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Beneath the marble tiers of the Panathenaic Stadium, where the modern Games were first revived, the handover unfolded like a passage through time, linking the origins of Olympism with its future. With this ceremony, the Flame’s days in Greece came to a close, and its international voyage officially began.
Weather warnings had prompted organizers to reshape parts of the program, yet the essence of the moment remained untouched. The fire born in Ancient Olympia, a symbol carried through generations, was once again entrusted to the next host nation, continuing a tradition that outlives every Games.
Italy receives the olympic flame from Greece
The handover ceremony drew together figures central to both countries’ Olympic communities. Acting as High Priestess, Mary Mina passed the Flame to Isidoros Kouvelos, president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee. After completing a nine-day journey across Greece, Kouvelos placed the Flame in the hands of Giovanni Malagò, head of the Milano Cortina 2026 Organizing Committee.
Italy’s presence was represented by two standout Olympians, Jasmine Paolini and Filippo Ganna, who carried the Flame as a symbol of the transition between nations. The cauldron inside the stadium was ignited by world water polo champion Elena Xenaki, joined by her teammates from the Greek national team.
A meticulously crafted artistic segment followed, featuring choreography by Artemis Ignatiou performed by the traditional priestesses. Music filled the stadium with performances from soprano Christina Poulitsi, the Youth Choir of the Athens Conservatory and the ERT National Symphony Orchestra. Italy’s national anthem, performed by baritone Tasis Christoyannopoulos, and Greece’s, led by tenor Giannis Christopoulos, added a ceremonial grandeur befitting the occasion.
Closing the flame’s passage across Greece
This moment also signaled the conclusion of the Flame’s Greek relay. The journey began on November 26 in Ancient Olympia, tracing a route through historic and modern landmarks before returning to Athens.
One of the most memorable stops occurred when the Flame spent the night of December 3–4 at the Acropolis, kept under watch by its official flame keepers while the site remained closed to visitors.
With its time in Greece complete, the Olympic Flame now travels to Rome, where it will begin an extensive relay across Italy. Over the next two months, it will move through cities and communities leading up to the Opening Ceremony on February 6, 2026.
