Olympic Torch Relay Begins Italian Journey in Rome

Roma, Italia - December 8, 2005

The Olympic Flame began its Italian journey today, when Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi lit the Olympic Torch at the Piazza del Quirinale in Rome. Stefano Baldini, Italian Olympic Gold medalist in the Marathon at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, was the first of 10,001 torchbearers to carry the Torch across Italy and its neighbouring countries - Slovenia, Austria, Switzerland and France.

On its first day on Italian soil, the Ferrari-designed torch will enter the Vatican to be blessed by Pope Benedict XVI. Footballers Francesco Totti of AS Roma and Paolo Di Canio of Lazio will light each other's torch. The relay will include gondolas, a Ferrari and a cavalry regiment. The Olympic Flame will visit over 140 cities and all of Italy’s regions as it winds its way to Torino to light the Olympic Cauldron at the Opening Ceremony of the XX Olympic Winter Games.

Although the identity of the last Torchbearer has not been announced, world-renowned Italian Olympic Champion Alberto Tomba is a leading candidate for the honour.

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