Steps of Flame Standing shivering in the snow , these two hostesses show where the flame should be burning . Winter Olympic Games hostesses Evelyne Mersand ( left ) and Josette Blanc point to the stairway leading up to the basin in which the Olympic flame will burn from the 6th of February onwards . At the opening ceremony the athlete carrrying the torch will have to climb these 96 steps to the top 16th January 1968