The Olympic Torch Relay begins: from the Stadio dei Marmi to Piazza del Popolo, Milano Cortina 2026 lights up Rome

The Olympic Torch Relay for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 began today in Rome. To celebrate the departure, an official ceremony took place at the Stadio dei Marmi “Pietro Mennea,” with the presence of the Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi, the President of CONI, Luciano Buonfiglio, and the President of Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026, Giovanni Malagò.

The Ceremony began with a particularly symbolic moment: Giancarlo Peris, a middle-distance runner who in 1960 was the final torchbearer for the Rome Olympic Games, handed the lantern with the Olympic Flame to Giovanni Malagò, who then lit the Cauldron of the Olympic Torch Relay.

The first to run at the Stadio dei Marmi was swimmer Gregorio Paltrinieri, winner of one gold, two silver, and two bronze Olympic medals, who passed the Torch to fencer Elisa Di Francisca, who has won two Olympic golds and one silver in foil fencing. The third torchbearer was Gianmarco Tamberi, Olympic gold medalist in high jump at the Tokyo 2020 Games, who exchanged the Flame with internationally renowned basketball player and current Italian champion, Achille Polonara. Polonara was the first torchbearer to leave the Stadio dei Marmi with the Flame, kicking off the Olympic Torch Relay through the city of Rome.

There are 164 torchbearers on the first day of the 63-day relay. Among them are prominent Italian figures from the world of sports and entertainment: from tennis player Matteo Berrettini to basketball players Gigi Datome and Andrea Bargnani, and former motorcycle racer Max Biaggi; as well as film director Giuseppe Tornatore, singers Noemi and Achille Lauro, actress Claudia Gerini, and designer Lavinia Biagiotti. A representative from the World Food Programme was also among the torchbearers, with Rania Dagash-Kamara, Assistant Executive Director of the WFP, participating on behalf of WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain.