Dual Flames Ignite Winter Olympics in Italy

The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics officially launched on February 6, marking a historic first with dual host-city flames. One cauldron was lit in Milan, and another in Cortina d'Ampezzo, symbolizing a unique beginning for the Games. The innovative cauldron designs draw inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci's geometric 'Knots' and are constructed from aeronautical aluminum, reflecting a fusion of natural harmony and advanced engineering.

Italian Alpine skiing legends Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni shared the lighting in Milan, while Olympic gold medalist Sofia Goggia performed the honors in Cortina. These intricate structures feature 244 articulation points and over 1,400 mechanical components, with diameters expanding from 3.1 to 4.5 meters when open. The Milan cauldron is situated near the Arco della Pace, a site historically significant for Italian unification.

Daily displays of the Olympic flame in Milan are scheduled hourly from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., accompanied by music from composer Roberto Cacciapaglia, continuing until the Games conclude on February 22. A subsequent lighting event will occur on March 6 for the Paralympic Flame, with both cauldrons remaining active throughout the Paralympic Games until their closing ceremony on March 15.