Actresses perform during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Olympic flame for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Games was ignited at the birthplace of the Games in Ancient Olympia, in western Greece on Wednesday.
Due to adverse weather conditions, the ceremony was staged inside the Archaeological Museum near the ancient stadium.
The flame will travel across Greece before being handed over to Italy at Athens' Panathenaic Stadium on December 4. ■
Actress Mary Mina (R, front), in the role of an ancient Greek High Priestess, gives an olive branch to the first torchbearer, Greek rower Petros Gkaidatzis (L, front) during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry delivers a speech during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
The first torchbearer, Greek rower Petros Gkaidatzis (R) and second torchbearer, Italian former cross-country skier Stefania Belmondo carry the torch during the torch relay after the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Lyu You)
Actress Mary Mina (L, front), in the role of an ancient Greek High Priestess, lights the flame during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
The first torchbearer, Greek rower Petros Gkaidatzis (R, front) and second torchbearer, Italian former cross-country skier Stefania Belmondo (L, front) carry the torch during the torch relay after the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Lyu You)
The first torchbearer, Greek rower Petros Gkaidatzis (L, front) carries the torch during the torch relay after the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Lyu You)
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry delivers a speech during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
Actress Mary Mina (R, front), in the role of an ancient Greek High Priestess, passes the flame to the first torchbearer, Greek rower Petros Gkaidatzis (L, front) during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
Torchbearers Greek rower Petros Gkaidatzis (L) and Italian former cross-country skier Stefania Belmondo are seen during the torch relay after the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Photo by Marios Lolos/Xinhua)
Torchbearers Greek rower Petros Gkaidatzis (C), Italian former cross-country skier Stefania Belmondo (L) and Italian former luger Armin Zoeggeler are seen in front of the Coubertin monument during the torch relay after the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Photo by Marios Lolos/Xinhua)
Torchbearers Greek rower Petros Gkaidatzis (C), Italian former cross-country skier Stefania Belmondo (L) and Italian former luger Armin Zoeggeler are seen in front of the Coubertin monument during the torch relay after the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Photo by Marios Lolos/Xinhua)
Torchbearers Greek rower Petros Gkaidatzis (C), Italian former cross-country skier Stefania Belmondo (L) and Italian former luger Armin Zoeggeler are seen in front of the Coubertin monument during the torch relay after the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Photo by Marios Lolos/Xinhua)
Torchbearer Italian former luger Armin Zoeggeler is seen in front of the Coubertin monument during the torch relay after the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Photo by Marios Lolos/Xinhua)
Torchbearers Greek rower Petros Gkaidatzis (C), Italian former cross-country skier Stefania Belmondo (L) and Italian former luger Armin Zoeggeler are seen in front of the Coubertin monument during the torch relay after the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Photo by Marios Lolos/Xinhua)
Torchbearers Greek rower Petros Gkaidatzis (R) and Italian former cross-country skier Stefania Belmondo are seen during the torch relay after the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Photo by Marios Lolos/Xinhua)
Photo taken on Nov. 26, 2025 shows the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
Children perform during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
Giovanni Malago, President of the Milano Cortina 2026 Organizing Committee, delivers a speech during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry (1st R) talks with the performers before the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
Performers in the role of priestesses are seen before the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
An actress carries a pot with the flame during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry delivers a speech during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
Isidoros Kouvelos, president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, speaks during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
Actresses perform during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
Actresses perform during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
A singer performs during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
Actress Mary Mina (front), in the role of an ancient Greek High Priestess, lights the flame during the dress rehearsal of the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Lyu You)
Actress Mary Mina, in the role of an ancient Greek High Priestess, holds a pot with the flame during the dress rehearsal of the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Lyu You)
International Olympic Committee (IOC) Honorary President for Life Thomas Bach (R) is seen before the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
Actress Mary Mina, in the role of an ancient Greek High Priestess, holds a pot with the flame during the dress rehearsal of the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
An actress carries a pot with the flame during the dress rehearsal of the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
An actress carries a pot with the flame during the dress rehearsal of the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
Actress Mary Mina (2nd L), in the role of an ancient Greek High Priestess, carries the flame and an olive branch during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
The first torchbearer, Greek rower Petros Gkaidatzis holds the torch and an olive branch during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
