The Olympic Winter Games of Milano Cortina 2026 concluded yesterday with a closing ceremony held at the Verona Arena, drawing to a close a multi-week event that involved approximately 18,000 volunteers, coaches, specialized personnel, and journalists.
Among those contributing to the Games was Cristiana Crivellaro, who served as a volunteer supporting the Australian cross-country skiing team. Her experience, along with insights from Francesco Erioldi, coach of the Australian Olympic team, and Andrea Eusebio, director of Alanews who covered the Olympics from Milan, offer a glimpse into the complexities of hosting an event of this scale.
The upcoming torch relay, a symbolic journey preceding the Games, will commence on November 26th from Olympia, Greece. The flame will arrive in Italy on December 4th, in Rome, before embarking on a 63-day journey across all 110 Italian provinces, covering 12,000 kilometers and visiting 60 cities. A total of 10,001 torchbearers will participate in the relay, culminating in the opening ceremony on February 6, 2026, at the San Siro Olympic Stadium in Milan.
Several prominent figures have been named as torchbearers, representing a diverse range of fields. Cristiana Girelli, captain of the Italian women’s national football team, and Andrea Soncin, the team’s coach, will carry the flame. Also selected are Giuseppe Tornatore, the Oscar-winning director and screenwriter, and Alessandra Mastronardi, an actress with international acclaim. Other confirmed torchbearers include Jasmine Paolini (tennis), Francesco Bagnaia (motorcycling), Flavia Pennetta (tennis), and Vincenzo Placida (athletics). Stefania Constantini, who won gold in curling at Beijing 2022, will also participate.
The selection of torchbearers also highlights inclusivity, with the inclusion of Chiara Vingione, a European and world champion in basketball with the FISDIR national team, and Valentina Placida, who has a rare syndrome, and her father Vincenzo, a marathon runner who will push her in a stroller during the relay. Achille Lauro, a singer, has also been named a torchbearer.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Games are expected to host around 2,900 athletes from over 90 National Olympic Committees, competing in 116 events across eight sports and 16 disciplines. The Games will encompass a large portion of Italy’s mountainous regions, covering an area of 22,000 square kilometers.
