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Official Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics torch, constructed primarily of recycled aluminium-brass alloy, with a grip insert of ultra-light bio-naphtha-based polymer, measuring 33.5˝ in length and 3˝ at its widest point, with the silver-tone Milano Cortina emblem present to the upper frame. Developed by Eni, in collaboration with Versalis, and designed by Studio Carlo Ratti Associati, with engineering and production handled by the Cavagna Group, the torch is a tribute to the excellence of Italian design and craftsmanship, striking a harmonious balance between technology, innovation, and sustainability, the latter being at the very heart of its creation — the torch is designed to be reused and refilled up to ten times, significantly reducing the total number required for both relays. It is powered by bio-LPG produced from renewable raw materials, including used cooking oils and agricultural waste, at Eni's Enilive biorefinery in Sicily. It also features an open design that, for the first time, reveals its technological components, which are visible through a vertical slit running along the body of the torch.
Bestowed with the poetic name 'Essential,' the lightweight torch bears a reflective, iridescent finish in blue-green hues, 'Shades of Sky' colors inspired by Italy's ever-changing landscapes, which evoke movement, hope, and transformation. Its exterior utilizes Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) technology, which lends the torch a radiant, dynamic effect that allows it to blend with its surroundings, contingent on the light conditions. 'Essential' was designed in a bronze tone for the Paralympics, its regal color representing 'Mountains of Light,' which honors the inner strength and courage of Paralympic athletes. Complete with its original turquoise carrying tube.
The official torch relay began on November 26, 2025, launching a symbolic journey from Greece to Italy ahead of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. The Greek leg featured more than 450 torchbearers carrying the flame across 2,200 kilometers, with stops at twelve major ski resorts and 36 welcoming ceremonies over nine days that celebrated Greece's cultural and winter-sport heritage. The relay culminated at Athens' Panathenaic Stadium, where the Olympic cauldron was lit and the flame formally entrusted to Italian organizers.
On December 4, the flame arrived in Rome at the Quirinal Palace, marking its ceremonial transfer to the host nation. The Italian relay officially commenced two days later at the Stadio dei Marmi, tracing a nationwide route spanning all 20 regions and 110 provinces. After traveling through the mainland and visiting Sardinia and Sicily, the flame continued its journey through Italy's cities, towns, and alpine communities, carried by thousands of torchbearers, before concluding at San Siro Stadium in Milan, where the Olympic flame lit the cauldron during the Opening Ceremony on February 6, 2026.
