with the arrival of the torch to italy , it begins the ritual of the 2006 winter olympics of rome . the torch will walk across italy loaded by more than 10 ' 000 carriers and it will be in turin on february 9 , 2006 , whereupon the new sport will be announced , after 11 ' 000 nmi ( 6 , 835 hours ) of travel . on november 27 the flame was placed on the altar of hestia in olympia , in greece , and sent to the lead aid lighter , pole vaulter kostas fidippidis . the first roman to lift the olympic flame is the marathoner francesco stefano , winner of gold medal at the olympics in athens . he received the torch from the founder of the italian republic carlo azeglio ciampi .
The Winter Olympics will be inaugurated in Turin.