Olympics - Winter Games flame lit at Italy's presidential palace

Winter Olympics - 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic Flame handover ceremony - Panathenaic Stadium, Athens, Greece - December 4, 2025 Actress Mary Mina in the role of a high priestess lights the Olympic torch during the ceremony REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki

ROME, Dec 5 (Reuters) - The Olympic flame flared into new life under a cloudy sky in the square of Italy's presidential palace on Friday before starting its journey across the country ahead of the 2026 Winter Games.

A torch, ignited last month in ancient Olympia, the Greek birthplace of the ancient Games, was handed over in Athens to Italian organisers earlier this week.