Milano Cortina 2026 torches were unveiled in two simultaneous events held at the Triennale di Milano, Italy and Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan.
The torches, which have been named ‘Essential’ because of their minimalist design, were created with sustainability in mind, striking the perfect balance between technology and the use of renewable raw materials, an official IOC release said.
Creators Eni, Premium Partner of Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, in collaboration with Versalis, Official Supporter of the Games, entrusted the design development to Studio Carlo Ratti Associati, while Cavagna Group is responsible for the engineering and production of the torches and their components.
“The message we’re trying to communicate with the design of the torch is about minimising everything that’s not necessary”, said Carlo Ratti, founder of Studio Carlo Ratti Associati and Professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“That’s what the torch does, putting the flame at the centre and minimising everything else. Sustainability means not using what is not necessary. And so what we did with the torch is actually putting the flame at the centre and minimising everything else.
“For me, the Olympics is about collaboration. And collaboration was also what was behind the torch with Milano Cortina, with ENI, Versalis, with Cavagna who developed all the flame. So, somehow I see the torch as a microcosm for actually the broader Olympics.”
Vio, who won wheelchair fencing gold at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, was equally impressed. “It’s beautiful, really gorgeous,” she said. “I like it because it’s very simple and not extravagant.”
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