"The modern Olympic torch has its roots in the ancient Greek tradition of a sacred flame, which was rekindled with a torch relay for the first time in 1936 to symbolize a connection between the ancient and modern games. The idea for the Olympic flame was derived from ancient Greek traditions in which a sacred fire was kept burning throughout the celebration of the ancient Olympics on the altar of the sanctuary of Hestia."
"The lighting ceremony was attended by several key figures from both Greece and Italy. Representing Greece, the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Kirsty Coventry, the President of Hellenic Republic, Konstantinos Tasoulas, and the President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, Isidoros Kouvelos, were all in attendance. All the way from Italy, the President of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), Luciano Buonfiglio, the Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi, the President of Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 ,Giovanni Malagò"
The Olympic torch was ignited on November 26 at the Archaeological Museum of Olympia, Greece, beginning the torch relay from Athens to Milan. The relay connects modern Games to ancient Greek traditions by rekindling a sacred flame originally kept on the altar of Hestia. The torch relay was introduced in 1936 for the Berlin Summer Olympics by Carl Diem. Greek and Italian dignitaries attended the lighting, including IOC President Kirsty Coventry, Hellenic Republic President Konstantinos Tasoulas, Hellenic Olympic Committee President Isidoros Kouvelos, CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio, and Minister Andrea Abodi. Greek rower Petros Gaïdatzis, a 2024 Paris bronze medalist, was the first relay runner and passed the flame to Italian athlete Stefania Belmondo.
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