Paralympic Flame Lights Up Italy Ahead of 2026 Games

A Paralympic champion skier and thousands of cheering fans gathered in Bolzano's main square last Friday to celebrate something bigger than sports: the power of human determination.

Giacomo Bertagnolli and his guide Andrea Ravelli lit the ceremonial brazier in Piazza Walther as the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Torch Relay made its fourth stop across Italy. The pair fresh from performing at Italy's famous Sanremo Festival, reminded the crowd that community support fuels every athlete's journey.

The torch relay started at Stoke Mandeville in England, the birthplace of the Paralympic Movement, before arriving in Turin. Now it's making its way through nine Italian cities with three different celebration formats designed to bring the Paralympic spirit directly to people.

Five northern cities including Milan, Bolzano, and Trieste are hosting Flame Festivals with free public events. These transform city squares into experiential hubs where families can participate in inclusive sports activities, learn about Paralympic values through interactive games, and hear directly from torch-bearing athletes about their paths to excellence.

Among the torchbearers in Bolzano was Lisa Vittozzi, who just won Olympic gold in biathlon at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games. Roland Ruepp, a Paralympic champion with four medals across six different Games, also carried the flame through the South Tyrolean capital's streets.

Four cities in central and southern Italy (Rome, Bari, Naples, and Bologna) are getting Flame Visits featuring a mobile LED truck that brings DJ sets, entertainment, and athlete stories to main squares. The goal is ensuring communities across the entire country can participate in this moment of unity.

The Ripple Effect

The relay isn't just about celebrating elite athletes. Educational areas in each city share information about projects supporting people with disabilities, while Challenge Zones offer activities designed for all ability levels. These experiences are helping thousands of Italians understand that Paralympic values like determination and courage belong to everyone.

On March 3rd, all the flames from different routes will converge in Cortina d'Ampezzo for the Union Ceremony. A transparent geodesic structure will host visitors in an immersive environment showcasing the Games' values through photos, games, and multimedia storytelling.

The unified flame will then travel through the Veneto region, visiting towns across Venice, Padua, and Verona provinces before reaching its final destination. On March 6th at Verona's Olympic Arena, the torch will ignite the Opening Ceremony cauldron, officially launching the Winter Paralympic Games.

From historic town squares to modern arenas, Italy is proving that inspiration spreads fastest when communities gather to celebrate what humans can achieve together.