Winter Olympics
men mass start race in speed skating
Milan-Italy-According to the Olympic organizers, the Olympic Torch Relay reached Cortina d’Ampezzo on January 26, marking a symbolic moment in the lead-up to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The arrival coincides with the 70th anniversary of the Opening Ceremony of the 1956 Winter Games, the first Olympics ever staged in Italy.
As the flame moved through the heart of the Dolomites, it illuminated a town deeply woven into Olympic history. Cortina d’Ampezzo hosted the 1956 Games and will once again serve as a central competition site in 2026, welcoming events such as women’s Alpine skiing, bobsleigh, luge, skeleton, and curling.
One of the relay’s most meaningful stops is the Olympic Ice Stadium, which served as the main venue in 1956 for ice hockey, figure skating, and both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Seventy years later, the historic arena is preparing to host curling competitions, bridging past and present through sport. Cortina has also added a modern landmark for the upcoming Games with the newly built Cortina Sliding Centre, designed for high-speed sliding events.
The torch’s arrival in Cortina follows a sweeping journey across Italy that began in Rome on December 4. Over the past seven weeks, the flame has passed through major cities, coastal towns, and mountainous terrain, reflecting Italy’s geographic and cultural diversity. The relay has climbed Mount Etna, descended ski slopes in Roccaraso, rafted through the Marmore Falls, and flown above the Lucanian Dolomites.
The relay has also drawn attention through a star-studded lineup of torchbearers. Athletes and public figures including tennis champion Jasmine Paolini, freestyle skiing star Eileen Gu, actor Jackie Chan, cycling legend Vincenzo Nibali, and football icon Filippo Inzaghi have all carried the flame, underscoring the global reach of the Olympic movement.
When completed, the 63-day relay will cover approximately 12,000 kilometers and visit all 110 Italian provinces before concluding at Milan’s San Siro Stadium on February 6. As the flame continues northward, its passage through Cortina serves as both a tribute to Olympic history and a signal that the next Winter Games are fast approaching.
Source:https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/olympic-torch-relay/news/key-highlights-top-celebrities-best-moments-olympic-torch-relay-milano-cortina-2026
