Utah 2034 to be represented in Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Torch Relay

Just eight years out from Utah’s very own Olympic games, Utah 2034 is set to have a strong presence in Milano Cortina this year, beginning with joining the 2026 Olympic Torch Relay.

ITALY (ABC4) — Just eight years out from Utah’s very own Olympic games, Utah 2034 is set to have a strong presence in Milano Cortina this year, beginning with joining the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Torch Relay.

The torch relay is a long-standing tradition that encompasses the journey of the Olympic Flame ahead of each Olympics. This year, it is making its way around Italy, bringing the excitement of Milano Cortina 2026 to every region in the country. The flame was lit on Nov. 26, 2025, in Olympia and arrived in Rome on Dec. 4. Since then, the flame has embarked on a journey to reach every corner of Italy, carrying the country’s cultural beauty, heritage, and the power of Olympic values.

There will be 10,001 torch bearers who will carry the flame before it concludes its 7,500-mile route, five of them Utahns. Five Utah captains from the Podium34 initiative will run individual legs of the torch relay each day from Feb. 1 to Feb. 5, sharing inspirational messages and causes important to the Utah 2034 organizing committee.

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“Our Podium34 program is rooted in amplifying causes important to our founding family foundations and to our Utah 2034 organizing committee,” said Utah 2034 CEO and Vice Chair Brad Wilson in a press release. “The Milano Cortina Torch Relay provides us with a valuable platform to raise awareness of these important messages that go beyond the Games.”

The dates and times for each leg of the relay that are representative of Utah 2034 were announced in a press release on Sunday.

Feb. 1- Stage 56

Feb 1: Spencer P. Eccles will kick off the Utah torchbearer train as a means of honoring his family’s legacy to the Olympic and Paralympic spirit. The Eccles family is dedicated to ensuring that the Utah 2034 Olympics will bring about lasting memories and strong community.

“It’s such an honor to represent Utah as a torchbearer for the 2026 games and is something I’ll always treasure. It reminds me of running with my dad in 2002 as he carried the Olympic torch in his hometown of Ogden, Utah— an unforgettable moment and a legacy I’m proud to carry forward! The torch means more to me than the light it projects,” said Eccles. “It illuminates hope: Hope for a brighter tomorrow; hope in people; and hope in the incredible things we can do as we work together.”

Runner: Spencer P. Eccles

Time: 6:12 p.m. CET (10:12 a.m. MST)

Relay Leg: Mandello del Lario

Foundation: George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation

Route: After stopping the previous day at the venue towns of Livigno and Bormio, the torch will continue through Valtellina, beginning in Berbenno di Valtellina and heading westward before running down the eastern shore of Lake Como. Spencer P. Eccles will run a leg along the lake between Mandello del Lario and Abbadia Lariana. From there, the relay heads to its finish that day in Lecco, the eastern gateway to Lake Como, where the alpine environment meets the region’s industrial and mountaineering heritage.

Feb. 2- Stage 57

Dale O’Blia will be the next Utahn to take on the torch. As a Daniels Fund Scholar, O’Blia recieved a full scholarship to Princeton where he is pursuing his passion for wrestling. O’Blia is dedicated of the pursuit of funding youth sports, which has been a top priority for the Daniels Fund in Utah and Colorado. He will carry the flame through the streets of Bergamo for the next piece of the relay.

“Watching Dale O’Blia, a Daniels Scholar, run in the Olympic Torch Relay is a powerful moment – and a reminder of the confidence, connection, and possibility sport can create. We’re proud to help open doors for more young American athletes to access those same opportunities,” said Hanna Skandera, President and CEO of the Daniels Fund.

Runner: Dale O’Blia

Time: 4:20 p.m. CET (8:20 a.m. MST)

Relay Leg: Bergamo

Foundation: Daniels Fund

Route: After its stop in Lecco, the torch will wind its way from Grignetta, outside of Lecco, to Bergamo. Dale O’Blia will be among the first legs in the city of Bergamo, where the leg will end that evening. Bergamo, a city of 125,000, is 25 miles northeast of Milano, nestled amongst a network of small hills. Its old walled core, the Città Alta, is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Feb. 3-Stage 58

David Huntsman is set to run the next leg of the relay through Paderno d’Adda. He will use the platform to share the Huntsman Family Foundation’s dedication to improving mental health and wellness.

“As special as it is for me to participate in this unique event, my priority is to use the incredible global platform of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to share our family’s commitment to improving mental health and wellness,” said Huntsman. “The collaboration with the IOC and IPC around athlete mental health will help our efforts to improve and save lives in our state, across the country, and throughout the world.”

Runner: David Huntsman

Time: 10:40 a.m. CET (2:30 a.m. MST)

Relay Leg: Paderno d’Adda

Foundation: Huntsman Family Foundation

Route: From Bergamo, the torch will head back towards Lake Como, passing through many small villages and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Crespi d’Adda. David Huntsman will run a morning leg through the village of Paderno d’Adda, known for its massive iron bridge over the Adda River, and the adjoining cities of Robbiate and Merate. The day will conclude in the city of Como, with its storybook setting at the base of the western arm of Lake Como.

Feb. 4- Stage 59

The next stage of the relay will be run by Amy Garff of the Ken Garff for Good Foundation. Her run will be dedicated to raising awareness for the importance of education. Garff provided a statement on her commitment to the cause.

“The Garff family is grateful for the opportunity to work alongside Utah 2034 and Utah schools in an effort to provide the best educational experience possible for the students of Utah. Education is the great differentiator; it allows students of all ages to reach greater levels of understanding in our world. The Olympic and Paralympic values of excellence, respect, and friendship, alongside determination, inspiration, courage, and equality, pair perfectly with the goals of education. We hope to encourage these values in ways that will allow the students of Utah to achieve excellence. We are excited to invite the students and families of Utah to celebrate these games within their state, country, and world. We hope that by emphasizing our sameness and by respecting our differences, we can all embrace more fully the magnificent tapestry of people and cultures throughout the world.”

Runner: Amy Garff

Time: 3:10 p.m. CET (7:10 a.m MST)

Relay Leg: Saronno

Foundation: Ken Garff for Good

Route: The torch will depart from the Lake Como region, heading to Gallarate and the Olympic venue at Rho Fiera (long-track speed skating, ice hockey). In the afternoon, Amy Garff will run a leg through the historic village of Saronno, known for its 15th-century Madonna dei Miracoli pilgrimage church, as well as for the famous liqueur, Amaretto di Saronno, and Amaretti apricot biscuits. The stage will end at Monza, home of the renowned F1 race track.

Feb. 5- Stage 60

The final Utahn-led stage of the relay will be run by Gail Miller of the Larry H. and Gil Miller Foundation. Her run will power straight through the streets of Milano, dedicated to advancing volunteerism and community service ahead of the Utah 2034 Olympic Games. The Miller family is working to inspire Utahns to get involved as our state prepares to host the games.

“I am honored to run the torch at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Gail Miller, chair of the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation and co-founder of the Larry H. Miller Company. “Having run the torch ahead of the 2002 Winter Games and again now is a powerful reminder of the torch’s ability to bring people together, spark volunteerism, and inspire communities to take part in something greater than themselves,” Garff said.

Runner: Gail Miller

Time: 4:37 p.m. CET (8:30 a.m. MST)

Relay Leg: Milano

Foundation: Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation

Route: Leaving Monza, the torch begins its run to Milano in Sesto San Giovanni, visiting the most iconic and significant locations in Milano, before finishing the day at Piazza Duomo. Gail Miller will be running a leg in the southwest of Milano. The next day, the Olympic Flame will light the cauldron to begin the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games.

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Source: Utah News