The designs for the torch, medals, sport pictograms and mascots of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (Milano Cortina 2026) have been unveiled by Rafaella Panie, the Games' brand and creative director.
Panie said the minimalist torch design allows people to focus their attention on the flame.
"What we (were) interested here is to have the idea that you've got a reflective surface which of course also gives attention to the flame. Because all the atmosphere around it and all the circumstances that will be around it will make sure that the attention is very much on that," she said while sharing her idea on the torch design.
The medal features two halves, reflecting the two Italian host cities and the efforts of athletes and their teams, families, and supporters, she said.
The mascots for the Milano Cortina 2026 are two sibling stoats named Tina and Milo, which are chosen by the public.
"We actually got 1,600 designs from schools. We chose 10, and then from 10 we went to 2. And these two were the stoats and the flowers. So we did a public voting, and in the public voting, the stoats came out as first place. So these are official mascots chosen by the public," said Panie.
Panie added that the mascot stoat for the Paralympic Winter Games is missing one leg, and instead, is using its tail to stand, showcasing the idea of resilience and inclusion.
The 2026 Winter Olympics are scheduled to take place from Feb 6-22, 2026, across various locations in Lombardy and Northeast Italy, specifically at sites in and around Milan, Cortina d'Ampezzo, and the Valtellina and Fiemme valleys. The Games will be jointly hosted by Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo.
Milano Cortina 2026 unveils designs for Olympic torch, medal, sport pictogram, mascot
China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao outlined the key priorities of the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, which opened on Friday in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province.
In an interview with CGTN ahead of the two-day meeting, Wang said free trade, digital cooperation and green economy are high on the agenda of the meeting.
"The key areas include advancing regional economic integration and the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, supporting the World Trade Organization (WTO) in strengthening digital cooperation and developing green economy. At present, the international situation is marked by intertwined turbulence and chaos, with intensified geopolitical instability. The rise of unilateralism and protectionism poses serious challenges to the international economic and trade order, disrupting global and Asia-Pacific development. Against this backdrop, all parties have higher expectations for this trade ministers' meeting, hoping that it can build consensus and deliver outcomes," Wang said.
This year marks China's third time hosting the APEC meetings and the 35th anniversary of its membership.
By 2025, China had become the largest trading partner of 13 APEC economies. Trade between China and APEC economies reached 3.7 trillion U.S. dollars, accounting for 57.8 percent of China's total foreign trade.
China has signed 24 free trade agreements or economic and trade arrangements with 31 countries and regions, including 15 APEC economies. In recent years, China has also completed upgrades of free trade agreements with APEC economies such as Singapore and Peru.
The minister said that China has always been a firm supporter and an important contributor to APEC.
"We have actively shared our vast market and development opportunities with all parties. China's door to the world will only open wider and wider. Facing the common challenges, China will continue to fulfill its responsibilities as a major country, further deepen reform, expand high-standard opening-up, and continue to provide new opportunities for the Asia-Pacific region and the world with its new achievements in Chinese modernization," the minister said.
China's Commerce Minister outlines priorities for 32nd APEC trade ministers' meeting
