ROME (AP) — The Olympic flame for the Milan Cortina Winter Games landed in Rome on Thursday following a handover in Greece.

The flame was carried in a small lantern aboard an ITA Airways flight between the Greek and Italian capitals.

Tennis player Jasmine Paolini — an Olympic gold medalist — and local organizing committee president Giovanni Malagò carried the flame off the plane.

A 63-day torch relay covering 12,000 kilometers (nearly 7,500 miles) will start in Rome on Saturday and wind its way through all 110 Italian provinces before reaching Milan’s San Siro Stadium for the opening ceremony on Feb. 6.

It’s the first time in nearly 20 years — since the 2006 Turin Games — that Italy has hosted the flame.

On Friday, the flame will be used to light a cauldron at the Quirinale Pa

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