ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece — The Olympic flame began its journey Wednesday to the Milan Cortina Winter Games — missing a little of its usual magic.
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Actress Mary Mina, right, playing the role of high priestess, passes the Olympic flame to the first torchbearer Greek rower Petros Gaidatzis, during the flame lighting ceremony for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, at the archaeological museum of Olympia, Greece, Nov. 26.
Greek rower Petros Gaidatzis, right, and former Italy's Cross Country skier Stefania Belmondo start the torch relay after the ceremony of the flame lighting for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, at the archaeological museum of Olympia, Greece, Nov. 26.
High Priestess Mary Mina, left, lights a torch from the Olympic flame during the flame lighting ceremony for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, at the archaeological museum of Olympia, Greece, Nov. 26.
Photos: Olympic flame began journey to Milan Cortina Winter Games
High Priestess Mary Mina, left, lights a torch from the Olympic flame during the flame lighting ceremony for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, at the archaeological museum of Olympia, Greece, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Dancers playing the role of priestesses perform during a rehearsal ahead of the flame lighting for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, at the Ancient Olympia site, Greece, Monday, Nov. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
A performer holds a ceramic pot with the flame during a rehearsal ahead of the flame lighting for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, at the Ancient Olympia site, Greece, Monday, Nov. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Actress Mary Mina, playing the high priestess holds a pot with the flame during a rehearsal ahead of the flame lighting for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, at the Ancient Olympia site, Greece, Monday, Nov. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Actress Mary Mina, playing a priestess, lights the flame during a rehearsal ahead of the flame lighting for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, at the Ancient Olympia site, Greece, Monday, Nov. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Actress Mary Mina, center, playing the role of high priestess holds the torch with the flame during a rehearsal ahead of the flame lighting for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, at the Ancient Olympia site, Greece, Monday, Nov. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
The children's choir of the Italian School of Athens sing the national anthem during the flame lighting ceremony for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, at the archaeological museum of Olympia, Greece, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Dancers playing the role of priestesses perform during a rehearsal ahead of the flame lighting for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, at the Ancient Olympia site, Greece, Monday, Nov. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Performers playing the role of priestesses wait for the start of a rehearsal ahead of the flame lighting for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, at the Ancient Olympia site, Greece, Monday, Nov. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Actor Mary Mina playing the role of high priestess, right, performs during a rehearsal ahead of the flame lighting for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, at the Ancient Olympia site, Greece, Monday, Nov. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Dancers playing the role of priestesses perform during a rehearsal ahead of the flame lighting for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, at the Ancient Olympia site, Greece, Monday, Nov. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Greek rower Petros Gaidatzis, right, and former Italy's Cross Country skier Stefania Belmondo start the torch relay after the ceremony of the flame lighting for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, at the archaeological museum of Olympia, Greece, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
A girl releases a white pigeon during the start of the torch relay after the ceremony of the flame lighting for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, at the archaeological museum of Olympia, Greece, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Kirsty Coventry, President of the International Olympic Committee, delivers a speech during the flame lighting ceremony for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, at the archaeological museum of Olympia, Greece, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
High Priestess Mary Mina, left, lights a torch from the Olympic flame during the flame lighting ceremony for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, at the archaeological museum of Olympia, Greece, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Actress Mary Mina, right, playing the role of high priestess, passes the Olympic flame to the first torchbearer Greek rower Petros Gaidatzis, during the flame lighting ceremony for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, at the archaeological museum of Olympia, Greece, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
