Milan Cortina 2026 flashlights unveiled: symbols of design, innovation and sustainability

Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics flashlights unveiled this morning: the flashlights of the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Games were unveiled simultaneously in two emblematic settings, at the Milan Triennale andExpo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. Two events that symbolically ignited the anticipation for the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, scheduled to take place in just under a year. Celebrating this moment were four champions who have left an indelible mark on the history of world sports: Stefania Belmondo, cross-country skiing legend and the last torchbearer at the 2006 Turin Games, and Paralympic star Bebe Vio attended the Milan ceremony, while on the other side of the world, representing the values of the Flame in Osaka, were Martina Caironi, fresh from her gold medal at Paris 2024, and Carolina Kostner, figure skating icon and Olympic bronze medalist at Sochi 2014.

The flashlights were christened “Essential,” a name that immediately recalls the style that distinguishes them: clean, elegant lines, essential indeed, but full of meaning. Made by Eni, Premium Partner of the Games, in collaboration with Versalis - Official Supporter of the event - these flashlights are not only symbols, but also highly technological objects, engineered with attention to environmental sustainability and functionality. The design bears the signature of Studio Carlo Ratti Associati, while Cavagna Group handled the engineering and production.

The two versions of the torch-one for the Winter Olympic Games and the other for the Paralympic Games-differ in color gradient, but share a reflective, iridescent aesthetic. The Olympic flashlight shines in shades ranging from green to blue, inspired by the sky and Italy’s ever-changing landscapes, a tribute to travel, change and hope. The Paralympic version, on the other hand, is dressed in bronze reflections, evoking the inner power and courage of Paralympic athletes, in a visual symphony called “Mountains of Light.”

The shape of “Essential” is designed to enhance the centrality of the Flame, making it visible also thanks to an unprecedented longitudinal opening that allows a glimpse of the internal technological components. An invitation to share the magic, to make it accessible to all, spectators and torchbearers alike, in a gesture that becomes universal. Every detail is a tribute to Italian design and the ability to transform an object into a powerful symbol, capable of telling the values of the Games: excellence, friendship, respect, perseverance, inclusion.

But the real innovation is in the technological heart of the flashlight. The burner is fueled with bio-LPG produced from 100 percent renewable raw materials, including used cooking oils, animal fats, and agribusiness residues. This bio-fuel is made at the Enilive biorefinery in Gela, a concrete example of circular economy and environmental commitment. The flashlight is also rechargeable and reusable up to ten times, a trick that makes it possible to significantly reduce the overall number of flashlights needed for the relays, helping to decrease the environmental impact of the entire event.

The materials chosen also tell a story of sustainability: the flashlight is made in Italy from an alloy of recycled aluminum and brass, weighs about 1,060 grams (not including the canister) and features an insert in the handle made of XL EXTRALIGHT®, an ultralight material obtained from a polymer developed by Versalis with 60 percent bionaphtha from renewable sources. The outer finish, on the other hand, is obtained with PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) technology, a state-of-the-art technique that imparts heat resistance and accentuates the reflective effect of the surface. In this way, the flashlight adapts to ambient light and changes its appearance depending on conditions, always offering new visual suggestions.

The flashlights will be the absolute stars of the Italian Pavilion throughout the Osaka Expo, bringing the Italian Olympic and Paralympic message to the heart of Japan. At the same time, they will also be displayed at the Milan Triennale starting in May 2025 and will remain there until the conclusion of the Winter Games. At the end of the competitions, the Olympic flashlight will become part of the permanent collection of the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, becoming a tangible and lasting legacy of Italy’s commitment to innovation, sustainability and excellence.

These objects, far from simple sports tools, embody the spirit of the time and the event. They are keepers of a Flame that symbolizes the inner light of athletes, their drive to overcome their limits, to compete with integrity and respect, celebrating diversity and promoting equality. Passing from hand to hand along the relays, the flashlights will unite athletes, volunteers, citizens and spectators in a shared journey of emotion and memory, leaving a deep mark on the Olympic narrative.

Milan Cortina 2026 flashlights unveiled: symbols of design, innovation and sustainability

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