Milan-Cortina 2026: A Glimpse of the Olympic Medals

One of the most anticipated symbols of the upcoming Games, the medals, was unveiled at Venice’s historic Palazzo Balbi. The ceremony featured two celebrated retired Italian athletes, swimmer Federica Pellegrini and multi-medalist Paralympian Francesca Porcellato, who highlighted their symbolism.

The medals were described as “the heartbeat of Italy, the essence of a design that moves, and the reflection of a dream made form.” Each piece represents a tribute to shared effort and collective resilience.

The design, conceived by the team led by Raffaella Paniè, brand and visual identity director for the organizing committee, features a layered circular structure, elegant and rich in meaning. “Our medal is divided into two halves. One represents the athlete; the other, the entire human team that has accompanied them on their journey: their family, their coaches, their environment. Winning a medal is never an individual achievement; it is the result of teamwork,” Paniè explained during the presentation.

One of the major innovations of this edition will be the incorporation of a Braille relief on the Paralympic medals, so that visually impaired individuals can recognize and feel the value of their achievement tactilely. This detail reaffirms the commitment to inclusion and accessibility in every aspect of the Games.

In total, the organizing committee will award 1,470 medals, all made from recycled materials and prioritizing non-toxic components. Furthermore, the entire production process has been designed to minimize environmental impact, using renewable energy at every manufacturing stage. This decision reflects a vision of sustainability that transcends the symbolic and translates into concrete action.

The medals of these Games are a reflection of a community that believes in teamwork and a celebration of human effort at its finest.