Olympic flame for 2026 Winter Games handed over to Italy in Athens

ATHENS, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Greece on Thursday held the Olympic flame handover ceremony for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympic Winter Games at the historic Panathenaic Stadium in Athens.

The flame was carried into the stadium by world wrestling champion Georgios Kougioumtsidis, who then passed it to Italy's Olympic champion Jasmine Paolini and cyclist Filippo Ganna, symbolizing the long-standing ties between Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, and Italy, host nation of the upcoming Winter Olympics.

World water polo champion Eleni Xenaki then received the flame and, together with her teammates from Greece's national team, lit the ceremonial cauldron inside the marble stadium, known as Kallimarmaro.

In his remarks, Isidoros Kouvelos, president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, highlighted the symbolic value of the ceremony and Greece's continuing role as guardian of Olympic traditions.

Giovanni Malago, president of the organizing committee for the 2026 Winter Olympics, thanked Greece for safeguarding the Olympic spirit and noted that preparations in Italy were moving forward.

The ceremony featured musical performances, including a rendition of "Asteromata" by Greek singer Klavdia, adding a cultural element to the handover ritual.

The Olympic flame will now travel to Italy, where it will begin its relay across the regions of Lombardy and Veneto in the lead-up to the 2026 Winter Games. ■