The Olympic flame commenced its journey to the Milan Cortina Winter Games on December 4, 2023, in a ceremony that deviated from tradition due to inclement weather. Heavy rain in western Greece forced organizers to relocate the torch-lighting event from the ancient stadium in Olympia to a nearby museum. Despite the less-than-ideal conditions, the ceremony maintained its significance, marking the start of a relay that will cover approximately 7,500 miles across Italy.
Typically, the flame is ignited by focusing sunlight through a concave mirror. However, with overcast skies on Wednesday, officials utilized a backup flame that had been kindled during a brief sunny moment at a rehearsal on Monday. Greek rower Petros Gaidatzis initiated the torch relay, which will see the flame carried by around 10,000 runners across Italy before the Winter Games, scheduled from February 6-22, 2024.
Symbolism Amid Challenges
The sun made a brief appearance during the indoor ceremony, providing a poignant backdrop. Kirsty Coventry, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), expressed her emotional connection to the event, stating, “It feels like the past and the present are really coming together. We are extremely happy that today’s ceremony reminds us what the Games stand for.”
Italy, preparing to host its third Winter Games, faces challenges such as cost overruns and construction delays. Nevertheless, organizers have promised an exciting program featuring 116 medal events, the introduction of ski mountaineering, increased female participation, and the return of National Hockey League (NHL) players to Olympic hockey.
Following its tour through Greece, the flame will undergo a 63-day journey across all 110 Italian provinces, showcasing cultural landmarks and host venues. Giovanni Malago, head of the Milan Cortina Organizing Committee, emphasized the flame’s route, saying, “It will travel from the northern peaks to the southern shores.”
Call for Peace and Unity
During the ceremony, speakers called on global leaders to honor the spirit of the Olympic Truce, an ancient Greek tradition that halted conflicts during the Games to ensure safe participation. Aristidis Panayiotopoulos, the mayor of Ancient Olympia, highlighted the contemporary relevance of this tradition amid ongoing global conflicts. He remarked, “Today humanity is going through a time of multiple and parallel crises. So we should honestly admit that a society at war is a failed society.”
Despite the change in venue, the ceremony preserved its traditional elements, including performances by dancers dressed as priestesses and male kouroi, as well as invocations to ancient Greek deities. Artistic director Artemis Ignatiou noted that the team had prepared for the possibility of bad weather, adding that the indoor setting provided a unique energy. “Dancing among the statues gave the ceremony a timeless feeling,” she stated in an interview with The Associated Press.
Looking ahead, a separate flame for the Winter Paralympics, taking place from March 6-15, 2024, will be lit on February 24, 2024, at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in England, the birthplace of the Paralympic movement. The Olympic flame’s journey continues to symbolize not only athletic achievement but also the enduring values of peace and unity.
