Vivien Insam was able to hold the Olympic flame in her hands. © Harald Wisthaler

A crowning finale to a special Olympic adventure

The Olympic flame recently visited South Tyrol. From Cortina, it traveled through the Puster Valley and the Eisack Valley before reaching Val Gardena, Vivien Insam's home region, via Bolzano. The former ski racer has had an exciting few weeks, culminating in a true highlight.

29 January 2026

From: leo

From the beginning of December until the opening ceremony on February 6, the Olympic flame toured throughout Italy, visiting 60 cities and towns. In the final days, South Tyrol was the epicenter of attention. The torch, carried by sports stars such as Carolina Kostner and Tania Cagnotto, stopped at venues including the Biathlon Center in Antholz and the Intercable Arena in Bruneck. Right in the thick of it was Vivien Insam, who, alongside the 10.001 torchbearers, ensured that everything ran smoothly.

Our SportNews The 28-year-old spoke about exhausting days, unique encounters, great emotions and also about the background noise surrounding the torch relay.


How did you get this job?

The police had to send 24 people – twelve women and twelve men – to ensure security for the torch relay across Italy. Federico Liberatore (also a former skier, ed.) and I were selected as part of the sports team. Initially, I was a bit skeptical because I found a test event in October very strenuous. The day started at 7 a.m. and ended at midnight. But now I'm very happy that I got the opportunity.”

Vivien Insam with Giorgio Chiellini.

What was your role, and were there any difficult situations?

The entire operation lasted 30 days. At each stage, we had to ensure the flame didn't go out, protect the torchbearer, and keep the path clear. For safety reasons, each leg was also escorted by cars and motorcycles. There were a few protests that forced us to alter the route, but overall, everything went smoothly.


What made this experience so special for you?

“On the one hand, we were a really great group, which isn’t always the case. The atmosphere was so positive that I forgot about the tiredness. Furthermore, I met many athletes and personalities with whom I also had the chance to chat briefly. For example, with Giorgio Chiellini. As a self-confessed Juventus fan, that was very special. It was also wonderful to see the emotions on the faces of the torchbearers – whether they were celebrities, ordinary people, or people with disabilities. When I got home a few days ago, I was a little sad, even though it was very tiring.”

Vivien Insam accompanied the torch on the Sellaronda. © Harald Wisthaler

But their Olympic adventure wasn't quite over yet.

“No. I was lucky enough to be able to participate in the torchlight procession on skis in Cortina on Monday. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to accompany the flame during the Sellaronda on Wednesday. The grand finale will then take place on February 6th at the opening ceremony, when our group reunites in Milan. I'm really looking forward to that.”


Last question: How did you feel about the criticism leveled at CONI regarding the selection of torchbearers?

Although I was aware of it on social media, it didn't affect the atmosphere at the torch relays, which were only 250 meters long each.