Olympic torch reaches Naples before holiday pause
Crowds brave rain as relay nears Christmas break
The Olympic torch arrived in rainy Naples in the final relay stop before the Christmas pause, drawing crowds who braved the weather to watch the flame pass through the city’s historic streets and seafront. Lit last month in ancient Olympia and transferred to Italian organisers in early December, the torch began its national journey from Rome’s Stadio dei Marmi on December 6 and will cover roughly 12,000 km across all 110 Italian provinces and more than 300 municipalities, with end-of-day celebrations planned in 60 cities en route to the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Naples’ leg featured a succession of torchbearers — athletes, youth, volunteers and civic representatives — running short sections amid applause from residents watching from balconies and shopfronts. A central-square ceremony highlighted themes of unity, peace and perseverance, accompanied by cultural performances and local music that blended Olympic symbolism with Naples’ vibrant street life. City officials framed the relay as a moment of pride and national visibility, noting its value as a festive occasion ahead of the holiday period.
Organisers said the torch will be placed in secure storage over the Christmas break before the relay resumes, eventually visiting Cortina d'Ampezzo on January 26 — marking exactly 70 years since that venue opened the 1956 Games — and ending at Milan’s San Siro in time for the February 6 opening of the Games, which will be co-hosted by Milan and Cortina and run through February 22, followed by the Paralympics in March. Security was stepped up along the Naples route, with police and volunteers managing crowds and traffic; the event proceeded without major incident.
The relay’s extensive itinerary is intended to showcase regional culture and build momentum toward the Games, with organisers aiming to link local traditions to the broader Olympic message. Spectators described the torch’s visit as a welcome, unifying spectacle amid economic and geopolitical concerns, and officials said the turnout underlined continuing public enthusiasm for the Olympics and the symbolic power of the torch as it moves toward the 2026 Winter Games.
