Pellegrini and Porcellato unveil medals for Milan-Cortina 2026

“The unveiling of the medal marks the beginning of the dream for every athlete. – said swimming champion Federica Pellegrini, who has participated in five Olympic Games – I was lucky enough to take two important ones, especially the gold in Beijing for me was touching the sky with one finger. Winning the Olympics is the biggest dream. Seeing the Olympic rings in our country today makes an impression. I envy the athletes who will be able to compete at home.” He then turns his thoughts to Federica Brignone, the ski champion and last season’s World Cup leader who, after being seriously injured last April, is fighting to make it to the games: “Federica is a tiger. I’m sure she’s doing everything, even stretching her days, to arrive ready. I’m rooting for her and all the female athletes in these Olympics. We show up with incredible spearheads.” To Francesca Porcellato, who as a Paralympic athlete in track and field, cross-country skiing and handbike has taken part in nine summer and three winter Paralympics, winning a total of 14 times, seeing the medals almost made her want to start skiing again: “As I was discovering them I was reliving the beautiful emotions that one feels.” She never wanted to preview the medals when she competed: “At the moment of victory, when they put them around my neck, I wanted the pure emotion and surprise of discovering them there.” Then he talks about the weight of the medal: “At first they were lighter, then since Vancouver the weight has increased and I liked that, because it represents the meaning of the effort that goes into getting them.” All Milan-Cortina 2026 medals are 8 cm in diameter and 10 mm thick. They weigh about 500 g, except the gold one will be coated with 6 g more gold.

The Olympic and Paralympic medals for the 2026 Games combine elegance, visual impact and sustainability, and were made with craftsmanship and at the same time high technological content. The energy used by IPZS to make them comes from 100 percent renewable sources. In addition, the medals were made with an environmentally friendly, non-toxic and recyclable protective coating, although, of course, the latter option is not contemplated, since they are designed to last forever, a testament to the effort and joy of victory. And Giovanni Malagò is keen to emphasize, “Absolutely there is no risk that they will deteriorate as happened to those made for the last Olympic Games.” Lemedals that will be made will total 1146 . In the 195 planned events, 245 gold, 245 silver and 245 bronze medals will be awarded. While there will be 137 gold, 137 silver and 137 bronze medals for the Paralympic Games. Inspired by the Italian avant-garde, the design of the Games’ medals, developed by the Organizing Committee’s design team, embodies the determination and passion of great athletes from around the world, but also the Olympic and Paralympic spirit. “We conceived a medal that represents purity and a return to the essence. – explained Raffaella Paniè, Brand, Identity and Look of the Games Director of Milano Cortina 2026 – With our medals we celebrate the strength of differences: two unique halves that come together through the Olympic and Paralympic symbol to create a strong and unified message. A concept that also lives in its surfaces, where the two textures meet and a story written by the athletes begins, but also by all the people who supported them: coaches, teammates, family and fans.”

“The Milan Cortina 2026 medals are more than just awards, they are the reflection of a dream taking shape. – Malagò stressed again – Every medal, Olympic or Paralympic, is a story engraved in metal: it speaks of the hard work, determination, sacrifices and hopes of those who have lived to reach the podium. But it also tells the story of an Italy that believes in the most authentic values of sport.”

Minister Salvini then gave some advance notice of the Games, “In addition to quality medals, we will also have wooden beds for the athletes, which are much more stable and sustainable, unlike other editions before us. There will be more than 3,500 athletes, with an expected two million visitors and 3 billion television viewers. We are working day and night to arrive on time also for all the related and connected infrastructure with 5 billion added value for the territories. – he says, also pointing out the new use that some spaces will have – In the Olympic village will rise the largest university student residence in Italy from the academic year 2026 – 2027, with 1,700 beds at contingent prices,” he explains, finally stressing that Russia is still two months away from participating in the Games in the case of a desirable ceasefire. “We are beginning to touch on the important milestone achieved. Besides us in contention for the Olympics there were seven states and two regions and autonomous provinces of Italy. In Lausanne we won against Sweden, which was trying for the 8th time to have the Winter Olympics. – Zaia finally recalled – We had courage to bring home a dream. And the presentation of medals is just the beginning.”