A perfect alignment of natural events is accompanying the arrival of the world’s most prestigious sporting symbol. Snow has finally arrived! But a prophetic sign had already appeared last week, when an extraordinary Aurora Borealis painted a luminous arc above the Presena Glacier at 3,000 meters. A symbolic image captured by our webcams seems to point to a clear path: at the two ends of the arc lie, ideally, Milan and Cortina, with Pontedilegno–Tonale positioned exactly in the middle, in a central location. Those traveling between the competition venues will find Pontedilegno–Tonale the ideal place to stop, breathe in the atmosphere of 3,000 meters, and enjoy unforgettable skiing before continuing toward the finish lines of Milan or Cortina.

But let’s return to the Olympic Flame: on Friday, January 30th, it will return to Lombardy, crossing the Pontedilegno–Tonale ski area.

The Olympic Flame will arrive from Val di Sole. The torchbearer will travel along the stretch of road from halfway up Passo Tonale to the departure point of the Paradiso gondola lift. From there, the torchbearer will ascend to 3,000 meters on the Presena Glacier, where, between 1pm and 1.30pm, the Flame will be handed over to the next torchbearer.

In Ponte di Legno, the Olympic Flame is expected to arrive at the Sports Hall at 12:30pm. From there, the torchbearer will proceed along Viale Venezia, Via XI Febbraio, pass in front of the Municipal Botanical Garden (where from 12:00pm the wait will be enlivened by music and entertainment), and continue along Via Roma.