As anticipation builds for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, one of the most iconic traditions in sports is already underway: the Olympic Torch Relay. Currently traveling across Italy, the flame’s journey is a powerful symbol of unity, history, and human achievement.
For the 2026 Games, 10,001 official torchbearers will take part in the relay. The journey began in Olympia, Greece, on November 26, 2025, and will wind its way through all 110 provinces of Italy, making 60 stops over 63 days and covering an impressive 7,500 miles before arriving at the Opening Ceremony next Friday.
Where the Olympic Flame Began
The Olympic flame as we know it today is rooted in ancient tradition. In Ancient Greece, a sacred fire burned continuously during the ancient Olympic Games on the altar of Hestia, the goddess of the hearth and home. Fire was believed to be divine, and sacred flames were common at Greek sanctuaries, especially at Olympia.
The first modern Olympic flame appeared at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. It burned atop the “Marathon Tower,” serving a practical purpose: signaling from miles away where the Games were being held.
Today’s flame is still ignited in Greece every two years during a traditional ceremony at the Temple of Hera. Women dressed as ancient priestesses use sunlight reflected by a parabolic mirror to light the flame—no modern technology involved. That same flame is then carried from torch to torch until it reaches the Opening Ceremony, where it burns until the Games conclude.
The Torch Relay: A Modern Invention
While the flame has ancient roots, the Olympic Torch Relay itself is surprisingly modern. It was first introduced at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin and has since become one of the most recognizable Olympic traditions.
Torch routes are carefully designed to highlight the host country’s culture, history, and achievements—and the methods of transportation have been anything but ordinary.
Over the years, the Olympic flame has:
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Crossed the English Channel by boat (1948 and 2012)
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Traveled by airplane for the first time in 1952 to Helsinki
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Been carried by dragon boat in Hong Kong (2008)
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Gone underwater at Sydney 2000 using a specially designed flare
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Been transported by camel, Native American canoe, and even Concorde
Perhaps most remarkable was 1976, when the flame was converted into a radio signal, transmitted via satellite from Athens to Ottawa, and used to ignite a laser that re-lit the flame in the New World. While the torch itself has traveled to space with astronauts (in 1996, 2000, and 2014), the flame has never left Earth.
What Happens If the Flame Goes Out?
Yes—it happens. The Olympic flame has been accidentally and deliberately extinguished during relays in the past. To prevent disaster, multiple backup flames are always kept nearby or transported alongside the relay. Any torch that goes out is re-lit from one of these sources, ensuring that every Olympic flame traces its lineage back to that original lighting ceremony in Olympia.
The Milano-Cortina 2026 Torch
Each host city designs its own torch, built to withstand harsh conditions. The Milano-Cortina 2026 torch is light blue, flute-shaped, and weighs just over two pounds. Made from recycled aluminum, it’s refillable and powered by a renewable fuel, blending sustainability with symbolism.
A Local Olympic Connection
And here’s a fun local twist: the Olympic Torch Relay has passed through Rochester! The flame traveled through our area during its journey to the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, proving that even global traditions can have hometown moments.
From ancient rituals to satellite signals and sustainable design, the Olympic Torch Relay remains a moving reminder that while the Games change, the flame—and what it represents—endures.