X060-GRECIA ENCENDIDO ANTORCHA OLIMPICA JUEGOS INVIERNO

The torch for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics was lit on Wednesday (November 26) in an indoor and scaled-down ceremony in ancient Olympia due to weather warnings, marking the final push for organisers for the event in February.

With the sun shining outside, officials inside the Olympia archaeological museum attended a low-key event with a video showing the lighting of the flame during Monday's rehearsal in the ancient stadium, before the flame was carried into the museum for the torch lighting.

Greek rower Petros Gaidatzis was the first torchbearer who left the museum and he was soon joined by Italy's multiple Olympic cross-country skiing medallist Stefania Belmondo for a joint leg of the relay.

After a week-long Greek relay, the flame will be handed over in Athens to Italian Games organisers on December 4 before it travels to Italy for the start of a months-long domestic relay. The torch will pass through 60 Italian cities and 300 towns with a total of 10,001 torchbearers, before reaching Cortina D’Ampezzo on January 26 – exactly 70 years after the opening ceremony of the 1956 Games at the same venue.

The journey will conclude in Milan, entering the San Siro stadium on the evening of February 6 for the Games' opening ceremony.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

ANCIENT OLYMPIA, GREECE (NOVEMBER 26, 2025) (IOC - See restrictions)

1. AERIAL VIEW OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF OLYMPIA

2. PRESIDENT OF GREECE KONSTANTINOS TASOULAS IS WELCOMED BY DELEGATES INCLUDING PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE KIRSTY COVENTRY AND PRESIDENT OF THE HELLENIC OLYMPIC COMMITTEE ISIDOROS KOUVELOS

3. DELEGATION WALKING TOWARDS INDOOR VENUE

4. VARIOUS OF THE AUDIENCE WATCHING THE BEGINNING OF THE CEREMONY

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENT OF THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE FOR MILAN CORTINA 2026, GIOVANNI MALAGO, SAYING:

"Standing here today, it's impossible not to be inspired and moved by the sheer weight of the history and tradition that sits at the heart of our great Olympic movement. Over the next few weeks, the Olympic flame will pass through all the Italian provinces, 60 cities, 300 towns, 20 regions, and all the UNESCO sites. It will travel from the northern peaks to the southern shores, carried by 10,001 proud torchbearers."

6. MALAGO ADDRESSING THE AUDIENCE AT THE INDOOR CEREMONY

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) GIOVANNI MALAGO, SAYING:

"20 years ago, I was given the incredible honour of carrying the Olympic torch for the Torino 2006 Winter Games in Roma, it created an immense emotion that is still engraved in my heart. This time, as the proud President of the Organizing Committee for Milano-Cortina 2026, it will be an extreme privilege to carry the Olympic flame once again. And I look forward to welcoming the world to Milano Cortina for next year's Winter Olympic Games. Thank you."

8. AUDIENCE WATCHING ON AT THE CEREMONY

9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE KIRSTY COVENTRY, SAYING:

"It is very special to be back here, and symbolic that the weather kept us from outside. But now we are here to celebrate the Olympic flame and the lighting of the Olympic flame. And as we light the Olympic flame for Milano Cortina, we will carry this light from the past to the present and continue it into the future."

10. DELEGATES INCLUDING MALAGO WATCHING COVENTRY'S SPEECH AT THE CEREMONY

11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) KIRSTY COVENTRY, SAYING:

"These games come at a critical part in our history."

12. AUDIENCE APPLAUDING

13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) KIRSTY COVENTRY, SAYING:

"Thank you, I wasn't supposed to get emotional, but this place is very special. And it's so special because in a divided world that we live in today, the games hold a truly symbolic place. And it's our duty, it's our responsibility to ensure that the athletes from around the world can come together peacefully and that they can inspire the dreams and hopes of those around the world that are watching. This is the true Olympic spirit. They live the values that unite us, they show us the best of humanity where no discrimination is seen on the field of play. That spirit can only flourish when every eligible athlete, team, and official can take part. And the Olympic Games will always continue to exist to break down walls that are put in our way."

"And I am so proud to be leading this organization, and I cannot wait to continue with all of you and the support of all of you to ensure that we inspire the next generation to come. Thank you."

14. COVENTRY WALKING BACK TO HER SEAT WITH AUDIENCE APPLAUDING

ANCIENT OLYMPIA, GREECE (NOVEMBER 24, 2025) (IOC - See restrictions)

15. DRUM BEGINNING TORCH LIGHTING CEREMONY AT THE TEMPLE OF HERA

15. VARIOUS OF THE ESTIADA (GREEK ACTRESS IONNA STRATI) ENTERING THE CEREMONY

16. VARIOUS OF THE HIGH PRIESTESS (GREEK ACTRESS MARY MINA) LIGHTING THE OLYMPIC FLAME

17. ARTEMIS IGNATIOU (GREEK ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AND CHOREOGRAPHER) ENTERING CARRYING THE TORCH

18. VARIOUS OF HIGH PRIESTESS PASSING FLAME TO ESTIADA, AND IGNATIOU PASSING TORCH TO HIGH PRIESTESS

ANCIENT OLYMPIA, GREECE (NOVEMBER 26, 2025) (IOC - See restrictions)

19. AUDIENCE WATCHING TORCH LIGHTING CEREMONY

20. ESTIADA ENTERING WITH FLAME, AND HIGH PRIESTESS ENTERING WITH TORCH

21. OLYMPIC FLAME

22. HIGH PRIESTESS USING ESTIADA'S FLAME TO LIGHT TORCH