Olympic flame sails through Venice
Torch relay highlights canals before Winter Games
The Olympic flame sailed through Venice’s canals as part of the national torch relay ahead of the Milano‑Cortina Winter Games, drawing crowds who watched torchbearers transfer the flame across bridges and by gondola along the city’s waterways. Organizers adapted the relay to Venice’s unique geography, using boats escorted by gondoliers and security craft to ensure the torch’s continuity while highlighting landmarks such as the Rialto Bridge and showcasing the city’s cultural and maritime heritage.
Venice served as the relay’s final stop on its 46th day across Italy. The flame’s Italian tour began in Rome and has visited Sardinia, Sicily and southern cities including Naples and Bari, forming part of a 12,000‑kilometre route that will culminate at Milan’s San Siro stadium on February 6. Organizers named actors Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie among the torchbearers slated for the relay’s final day.
Local authorities emphasized measures to protect Venice’s fragile environment and manage crowds, rerouting boat traffic and restricting access to sensitive areas while maintaining a festive atmosphere. Torchbearers included athletes, cultural figures and maritime representatives, underlining the relay’s aim to reflect local character and engage communities. Cultural events, school groups and performances accompanied the passage, with many Venetians describing the stage as a rare civic celebration that merged ancient tradition with a modern global spectacle.
The Venice leg was presented as one of the relay’s most distinctive stages, combining logistical challenges with strong symbolic value: the image of a steady flame moving through water and stone drew wide attention on social media and reinforced the relay’s role in promoting Olympic values nationwide as preparations continue for the upcoming Games.
