IOC chief Kirsty Coventry hails power of Olympics as 2026 Winter Games torch relay sets off in Greece - 'A truly symbolic place'
Updated 26/11/2025 at 14:53 GMT
The torch relay in Olympia on Wednesday marked the beginning of the countdown to the highly-anticipated 2026 Milano Cortina Games, which will be shown live on TNT Sports and discovery+. New International Olympic Committee chief Kirsty Coventry made an emotional speech during the ceremony, stressing the importance of the Olympics' ability to encourage togetherness.
Watch: Olympic torch lit in Olympia ahead of Milano Cortina 2026
Video credit: TNT Sports
International Olympic Committee chief Kirsty Coventry highlighted the significance of the Milano Cortina 2026 Games as the torch relay set off from ancient Olympia in Greece on Wednesday.
Coventry was visibly emotional during the torch ceremony at the Olympia archaeological museum, stressing the potential for the Games to bring people together.
She is the first woman to head the Olympic movement and made clear her emotional connection to the Olympics.
"I wasn't supposed to get emotional, but this place is very special," Coventry said.
"In a divided world that we live in today, the Games hold a truly symbolic place. It is our duty, our responsibility, to ensure that the athletes from around the world can come together peacefully."
The Games in Lombardy begin on February 6 and end on February 22, with live coverage of all the action on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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Greek actress Mary Mina played the role of High Priestess at the torch ceremony, passing the torch to Greek rower Petros Gaidatzis, who was then joined by Italian cross-country skiing champion Stefania Belmondo.
They ran to the grove in Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympics, and gave the torch to Italian luge legend Armin Zoeggeler.
A rainy weather forecast meant the flame ceremony was not held at its usual location, among the ruins of the 2,600-year-old Temple of Hera.
There will be a handover ceremony at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens on December 4, after which the flame will continue its journey to Rome and a 63-day, 12,000-kilometre (7,500-mile) course through Italy's major cities.
"The Milano Cortina torch relay will respect our shared classical heritage, passing through Rome's imperial monuments, Pompeii, Appian Way and regions of Magna Graecia, creating a story of continuity between ancient Greece, ancient Rome and modern Olympism," said Giovanni Malago, President of the Organising Committee for Milano-Cortina.
Where are the 2026 Winter Olympics?
The 2026 Winter Olympics will be hosted in two cities in northern Italy: Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo.
The events will take place in four main areas:Â
- Milan - ceremonies in Milan and Verona; ice hockey, speed skating, figure skating and short track in Milan
- Valtellina - freestyle skiing and snowboard events in Livigno; ski mountaineering and men's Alpine skiing on the Stelvio
- Cortina - women's Alpine skiing on the Tofane; curling and sliding sports in Cortina; biathlon in Anterselva
- Val di Fiemme - ski jumping in Predazzo; cross-country skiing in Tesero
How to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics
discovery+ will be the only place to watch every moment of the Games held over 19 days, involving all 2,900 athletes competing in 116 medal events across 16 disciplines within eight different sports. Individual streams of every competition will be provided across all subscription tiers on the platforms.Â
TNT Sports 2 will be the go-to destination for the most comprehensive Olympics content with 24/7 coverage across all 19 days of competition. Olympic action will also feature across TNT Sports 3 and TNT Sports 4 among other sport. Â
What new events are at the 2026 Winter Olympics?
There are seven new medal events at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
They are: ski mountaineering, men's dual moguls, women’s dual moguls, men’s and women's doubles luge, men's and women's team Alpine combined, women's large hill ski jump, and mixed team skeleton.
The 2026 Winter Games will take place from February 6-22, with the event shown live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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