Milano Cortina 2026 unveiled the
medals of the Paralympic Winter Games and the Olympic Winter Games during a
ceremony in Venice on 15 July 2025, attended by Italy’s 14-time Paralympic
medallist Francesca Porcellato and Olympic swimmer Federica Pellegrini.
The medals of Milano Cortina 2026
feature an ‘essential’ design that places emotion and teamwork at the core,
symbolising not only the union of two host cities – Milano and Cortina – but
also the ‘soul of victory’ and what it requires to achieve it.
Uniting
two worlds
The two halves of the medal are
brought together by the Paralympic and Olympic values. Two dimensions reflect
the culmination of an athlete and Para athlete’s journey, and everyone who
supported them along the way.
The concept of the medal is a
powerful metaphor, portraying the story of two worlds coming together, united
by the spirit of the Paralympic Games and the Olympic Games: a world where
competition does not divide but unites.
“The medals of Milano Cortina are
much more than mere awards. They are the heartbeat of Italy, the essence of a
design that moves, the reflection of a dream taking shape. They encapsulate the
identity of a country – its creativity, its passion for sports and beauty,”
Giovanni Malago, President of Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026, said.
“Each medal, whether Olympic or
Paralympic, is a story etched into metal: it speaks of effort, determination,
sacrifice and the hopes of those who have lived to reach the podium. But it
also tells the story of a country that believes in the most authentic values of
sport. Those who win it will carry with them not just the tribute of victory,
but a living fragment of the Italian Spirit – an eternal symbol of what we are
capable of dreaming and achieving together.”
The
Italian spirit
There will be 137 gold, 137 silver
and 137 bronze medals awarded to athletes during the Paralympic Winter Games,
which take place from 6-15 March 2026. The Games will bring together up to 665
athletes competing in six sports: Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para
cross-country, Para ice hockey, Para snowboard and wheelchair curling.
The medals, which were designed by a
team at Milano Cortina 202, are crafted by the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca
dello Stato (IPZS), a company wholly owned by the Ministry of Economy and
Finance.
The Olympic and Paralympic medals of
Milano Cortina 2026 bring together elegance, visual impact, and sustainability.
The medals are produced by the IPZS with an eco-friendly, non-toxic, and
recyclable protective finish. The energy used by the IPZS comes entirely from
renewable sources.
The design embodies “the
determination and passion of the world’s greatest athletes and Para athletes,
but also the Olympic and Paralympic spirits,” explains Raffaella Panie, Brand,
Identity and Look of the Games Director for Milano Cortina 2026.
“We conceived a medal that represents
purity and a return to essence. With our medals, we celebrate the strength
found in difference: two unique halves that join through the Olympic and
Paralympic symbols to deliver a bold and unified message. This concept is also
reflected in the surfaces of the medals, where two textures meet and begin a
story written not only by the athletes and Para athletes, but also by those who
supported them: coaches, teammates, family members, and fans.”
Secure your tickets for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic
Winter Games
Milano Cortina 2026, which takes
place from 6-15 March 2026, is set to be the most beautiful Paralympic Winter
Games yet. Ticket prices start at EUR 10 for children under 14, with
approximately 89 per cent of the tickets available for EUR 35 or less.
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