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)

ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece (AP) — The Olympic flame began its journey Wednesday to the Milan Cortina Winter Games — missing a little of its usual magic.

Bad weather lashing western Greece forced organizers to move the torch-lighting ceremony indoors, from Olympia’s ancient stadium and temples to a nearby museum.

The flame is lit by focusing the sun’s rays with a concave mirror. But with skies overcast, officials used a backup flame kindled during a brief spell of sunsh

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