Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra was chosen on Wednesday to carry the torch at the Winter Games next year. The 2026 Winter Olympics will take place in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, from February 6 to February 22.
“Truly humbled to be chosen as a torchbearer for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Torch Relay. The Olympic flame has always held a special place in my heart — a symbol of dreams, perseverance, and the unity that sport brings to our world,” Bindra wrote on his X page.
Bindra’s continued significance in the Olympic movement is highlighted by his selection as torchbearer for the 2026 Games. Bindra’s new role is viewed as an extension of his symbolic presence in international sport, having carried the expectations of a nation at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
In his post, he further remarked, “To carry it once again is both an honour and a beautiful reminder of what sport makes possible. Thank you, @milanocortina2026 for this incredible honour.”
With competitions held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will be Italy’s fourth Winter Games hosting event. In comparison to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, the enlarged program will have 116 medal events in 16 disciplines, an increase of seven events and one discipline.
A well-known tradition of the Games, the Olympic Torch Relay represents the Olympic movement’s values and continuity. Along the way to the opening ceremony, Bindra will carry the torch across several countries alongside a global group of athletes and other individuals. The relay will spread excitement for the Games and celebrate Olympic ideals by interacting with communities around Italy.
