Process for the gas-phase polymerization of olefins of the formula CH₂=CHR in which R is hydrogen or an alkyl or aryl radical with 1 to 8 carbon atoms carried out in one or more reactors having a fluidized or mechanically agitated bed, using a catalyst obtained by reaction of a titanium halide or haloalcoholate and optionally an electron-donor compound supported on an active Mg dihalide with an Al-trialkyl compound and optionally an electron-donor compound, comprising the steps of: a) contacting the catalyst components in the absence of the olefin; b) prepolymerizing propylene or mixtures of propylene with minor amounts of ethylene or an alpha-olefin to form a propylene polymer with an insolubility in xylene of at least 60% by weight, in an amount of from 0.5 to 1000 g per g solid catalyst component; and c) polymerizing one or more CH₂=CHR olefins in the gas phase in the presence of the prepolymer-catalyst system obtained in b) while maintaining in the gas phase an alkane in a molar concentration with respect to the olefin of from 20 to 80%.