Milano Cortina 2026 unveils 'Essential' Olympic torch, blending Italian design with sustainability

The organizers of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games on Monday unveiled the official torches that will carry the flame of the Games, highlighting themes of Italian design, technological innovation and environmental sustainability.

Named "Essential," the torches were presented simultaneously at the Triennale di Milano in Italy and at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, in a ceremony underscoring both the international spirit of the Olympic Movement and the deep cultural roots of the host country.

Four celebrated athletes took part in the twin launch events: Stefania Belmondo, Olympic champion and the final torchbearer of Torino 2006, and Paralympic fencing gold medalist Bebe Vio introduced the torches in Milan, while Paralympic champion Martina Caironi and Sochi 2014 figure skating bronze medalist Carolina Kostner participated in the unveiling in Osaka.

The design of the torch pays tribute to simplicity and strength. Developed by Italian energy company Eni in collaboration with Versalis, and crafted by Studio Carlo Ratti Associati, the torch emphasizes the flame at its core, with a sleek, minimalist form and an iridescent finish. Two versions were revealed -- one in blue-green for the Olympic Games, and the other in bronze for the Paralympic Games.

Weighing just over one kilogram and produced entirely in Italy, each torch is made from a recycled aluminium and brass alloy. With reusability and sustainability in focus, the torches can be refilled and reused up to 10 times, significantly reducing production volume for the torch relays.

Powering the torch is bio-LPG, a renewable fuel derived from waste materials such as used cooking oil and animal fats, produced at Eni's biorefinery in Gela, Sicily. The burner, considered the technological heart of the torch, is visible for the first time thanks to an open design, offering the public a rare view into the mechanics that keep the Olympic flame alight.

Color choices reflect deep symbolism: "Shades of Sky" -- a nod to Italy's dynamic natural landscapes -- decorates the Olympic torch, evoking movement, hope and transformation. The Paralympic torch features "Mountains of Light," symbolizing resilience, strength and the transformative power of sport.

Organizers emphasized that each torch serves as both a functional object and a cultural icon, embodying the spirit of unity and excellence that defines the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Following the torch relays, the Olympic torch will become part of the official collection at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne.

The torches will be on public display at the Italia Pavilion throughout Expo 2025 in Osaka, and at the Triennale di Milano from May 2025 until the conclusion of the Games.

Milano Cortina 2026 unveils 'Essential' Olympic torch, blending Italian design with sustainability

Milano Cortina 2026 unveils 'Essential' Olympic torch, blending Italian design with sustainability

Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez said on Sunday that the country is at a critical stage and must achieve national unity, emphasizing that maintaining internal cohesion is of utmost importance.

In a televised address, Rodriguez called on the public to continue trusting the government under the current highly complex political circumstances.

Her statement comes in the wake of a January 3 military operation conducted by the United States, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were taken into custody and flown out of the country.

The operation resulted in at least 100 fatalities.

Rodriguez, who was sworn in as acting president two days later on January 5, framed her appeal for unity against this backdrop of external intervention.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan Minister of Communication and Information Freddy Nanez denounced the U.S. actions as a "war crime of the 21st century" when speaking at an international cultural event on Sunday.

Nanez condemned not only the January 3 airstrikes but also the associated cyber and electromagnetic attacks.

He accused the United States of violating international law through the forced removal of President Maduro and his wife, while attacks on civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities, represent a flagrant breach of humanitarian norms.

He reiterated that the stigmatization and military attacks against Venezuela are driven by economic interests, particularly the desire to control its abundant natural resources.

Venezuelan acting president calls for national unity amid complex situation