Italy showcases medals for 2026 Winter Games
The medals have the traditional Olympic five-ring symbol on one side, with an inscription on the reverse that details the event and commemorates the venue. The same format has been used for the Paralympics, which has its own distinct symbol.
They were presented at a ceremony in Venice that featured two celebrated retired Italian athletes, swimmer Federica Pellegrini, and Francesca Porcellato, who has won gold medals at both Winter and Summer Paralympics.
"Each medal, whether Olympic or Paralympic, is a story etched into metal: it speaks of effort, determination, sacrifice, and the hopes of those who have lived to reach the podium," said Giovanni Malago, president of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Foundation.
The medals have been produced by the IPZS, the state mint, which is owned by the economy ministry.
A total of 245 gold, 245 silver, and 245 bronze medals will be presented during the Winter Games. In the Paralympics, 137 medals will be awarded in each of the three rankings.
Milan and the town of Cortina d'Ampezzo, one of Italy's most famous ski resorts, are the main hosts of the Games, which run from February 6 to 22 next year. The Paralympics will follow the following month.
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Asia News Network
3 days ago
- Asia News Network
Despite scant resources, Nepal's para-fighters keep kicking
July 28, 2025 KATHMANDU – Every morning, except on Saturdays, Kabiraj Negi Lama walks into a modest taekwondo hall of the Nepal Taekwondo Association building in Satdobato, Lalitpur. The sun has barely risen, but the space is already abuzz with the echoes of powerful, menacing kicks hitting paddle targets and the sharp 'aah!' of athletes pushing their limits. They are para-taekwondo players—five of them—all chasing the same dream: medals for the country. And Lama is their coach—unpaid, unrecognised, but still holding on. Less than a year ago, Lama helped Palesha Goverdhan win Nepal's first-ever medal at the world's biggest multi-sport stage—a bronze in the K44 -57kg category at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. It was a moment of historic pride. Flags waved. Speeches were made. Promises poured in. Among them was a simple one: Lama would be given a formal coaching role. But nearly a year later, Lama, under whom Nepal has secured 11 official international medals, including three gold, two silver, and six bronze, is yet to be appointed. By day, Lama works at the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA). By early morning, he volunteers his time, training the next generation of para-fighters—Bharat Singh Mahata, Amir Bhlon, Dipesh Mahat, Kamana Prasai, and Renu Tamang—who are now preparing for the 10th Asia Para Taekwondo Championships, a G4 category event, in Kuching, Malaysia. Goverdhan (-57kg), Mahata (-58kg), Bhlon (-63kg), Prasai (-47kg), and Tamang (-47kg) will be leaving for the tournament on July 29, with their bouts taking place on August 1. 'Mahat, who does not have both of his hands, will not join us as his category did not have enough players,' Lama said. 'Goverdhan will join us in Kuala Lumpur directly from China, where she is pursuing her bachelor's in architecture engineering. We will then head to Kuching together.' The Kathmandu District Taekwondo Association and Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) bid farewell to the squad at an event on Saturday. 'It's a big tournament,' Lama said. 'A good result here could open doors for our athletes for LA 2028.' A medal, but no job Lama's own Olympic dream had ended years ago—he was a promising taekwondo athlete, but was often outmatched due to his shorter height. 'My height wasn't on my side,' he said. 'So, I thought maybe I could make it as a referee, just to be part of the Olympics.' That path, too, closed. But during referee training, Lama learned something that reshaped his purpose: the Olympics and Paralympics were of equal stature, organised under the same structures and values. Pulling up the official social media pages of Paris 2024, LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032, he shows their profile pictures. 'The emblems of the Olympics and Paralympics are side-by-side. These matching logos say it all,' Lama said. 'My dream was to reach the Olympics. I couldn't do it as an athlete, but I became part of a medal-winning team. And now, others are chasing the same dream. I can't walk away from them.' Dreams on Rs100 a day The five athletes Lama trains are determined but financially strained. They get just Rs100 a day from the association for training, which barely covers transport cost. A separate Rs500 daily stipend under the government's 'Mission 26' programme, an initiative aimed at securing a gold and double-digit medals at the 2026 Asian Games, was also recently cut at the end of the fiscal year 2024-25, citing budget constraints. Lama was among its recipients. In martial arts, where a practitioner needs good nutrition and diet to stay fit while focusing on preventing injuries, a couple of hundred rupees is dirt in the desert. Still, the athletes keep showing up. Take Bharat Singh Mahata. He hails from a village near Lipulekh, one of Nepal's most remote border regions. Born without his left hand below the elbow, Mahata initially played volleyball but had to stop due to the lack of inclusive opportunities. He came to Kathmandu in 2015 in search of some para-sports to join. 'I looked up one-hand cricket on YouTube and even tried wheelchair cricket in Kathmandu,' he recalled. 'But nothing worked out.' Disheartened, he returned to his village, a journey that still takes over two days, with hours of walking from the final bus stop. In 2023, he came back to the Capital after hearing about para-taekwondo and met Lama. Just two years in, he is already considered one of Nepal's most promising fighters. 'I just wanted a space where I'd be recognised for my talent,' he said. 'People like us aren't given proper jobs. We're not seen through the same lens. With wins in major tournaments, I want to change the way we are seen.' Now 27, Mahata is married, has a young son, and supports three sisters. He keeps cows to sell milk and helps run the household. 'Rs100 may sound like nothing, but it's what kept me going,' he said. 'Whether taking a bus or buying a bottle of water, I think a hundred times before spending money. I know I'm getting almost nothing from the state, but at least that amount has kept me going.' Mahata also returns in the evenings from Kirtipur to train with able-bodied taekwondoins, pushing himself to perform at an even higher level. Gold, not survival Inside the training hall, two A4-sized papers hang on the wall: one bears the LA28 logo, the other, the 2026 Asian Games emblem. Mahata taped them up himself. 'Paris was tough,' he said of the Paralympics, where he failed to progress towards a medal. 'But the Asian Games in Japan and the Paralympics in LA—they won't be the same. This time, I'm not training for bronze or silver. I aim for gold.' The ambition has caught on. Amir Bhlon, who took up the sport on October 24, 2021, a date he clearly remembers, begins his morning routine by circling the Satdobato sports complex seven times—his warm-up ritual. 'I'll keep getting better and better,' he said. 'I want to win medals on the biggest platforms.' Each of the athletes shares a similar story: limited financial support, poor job security, and mounting personal responsibilities. 'There are no good jobs for people with disabilities in this country,' said Bhlon. 'I used to work for an online platform—calling clients, reminding them of payment deadlines. But I left to focus on training. How I'm surviving now, even I don't know.' Yet, every morning, they return to that hall, their kicks sharper, their voices louder, and their eyes still locked on a brighter future. Will the medal matter? Lama believes the Paris bronze changed something. Since Goverdhan's win, there's been a visible surge in interest as more persons with disabilities are exploring para-sports, asking about opportunities, and showing up. 'Thanks to the hall and basic training equipment provided by the association,' Lama continued, 'we can at least keep kicking and keep moving towards the dreams that seem impossible.' But whether that interest is matched with institutional backing remains uncertain. 'If we don't act now, we'll lose them,' Lama said. 'This can't be a one-time story. There has to be a system in place.'
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Straits Times
Spanish harmony to battle English resilience in Women's Euro final
BASEL, Switzerland - Sunday's final of the Women's Euros in Basel pitches the two best European teams of the current generation against each other, as a unified Spain side bristling with technique and intelligence takes on an equally talented England side that never gives up. Both sides have overcome adversity on their way to the final, with Spain almost losing playmaker Aitana Bonmati to a pre-tournament meningitis scare, and Sarina Wiegman's England coming close to elimination twice in the knockout round, only for late heroics to see them through. "We need to be at our best to beat Spain. I think they need to be at their best to beat us, too," England captain Leah Williamson told a media conference on Saturday. "I think there's a lot of respect between the two teams, and I'd be hesitant to rule an underdog in this scenario." Both sides said that all 23 squad members were fit and available for selection on Sunday, setting the stage for what is expected to be an intriguing battle of skill, wit and nerves. Defending champions England may not have played particularly well in their five games so far, but they have displayed an uncanny ability to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in the knockout stage, first with a shootout win over Sweden and then with a come-from-behind extra-time victory over Italy. "I know that we've left it late," Williamson admitted. "(That was) definitely not the plan, we'd really like to wrap things up a little earlier and a little easier if we could." Spain have also gotten off to several slow starts, but they have still run out convincing winners in their five games to date, eventually finding a way to break down their opponents. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Woman taken to hospital after car falls into sinkhole on Tanjong Katong Road Singapore Students hide vapes in underwear, toilet roll holders: S'pore schools grapple with vaping scourge Singapore 'I've tried everything': Mum helpless as son's Kpod addiction spirals out of control Singapore NDP 2025: How Benjamin Kheng is whisked from Marina Bay to Padang in 10 minutes by boat, buggy Singapore Almost half of planned 30,000 HDB flats in Tengah to be completed by end-2025: Chee Hong Tat Singapore From libraries to living rooms: How reading habits take root in underserved S'pore children Asia Thai-Cambodia clashes spread along frontier as death toll rises Asia Thousands rally in downtown Kuala Lumpur for resignation of PM Anwar "We have a particular way of playing, of training, we are very confident. Even if we won the games, there are things always that we can correct, things we see on video that we practice, and that's our line of work," Spain captain Irene Paredes said. The Spain team for Sunday's final is a much more harmonious one than the one that took beat England 1-0 in the World Cup final in 2023, when several of the best Spanish players boycotted the tournament in a dispute with coaching staff and their federation. Though Spain won that game 1-0 to claim their first major title, Montse Tome's squad has given a much more unified impression in Switzerland, with none of the negativity that surrounded them at that World Cup. "(This tournament) shows the change we are making, and right now I believe that, for all their efforts, the squad deserves to win," Tome said. "When you are in the elite football world that's not always the case, but we will do everything to win the final tomorrow." Spain's only defeat in their last 14 games came at the hands of Sarina Wiegman's side in the Nations League in February, and they will be slight favourites for Sunday's decider, but Paredes said such labels make little difference when the game kicks off. "I think both teams deserve to be in the final. We wanted to be there, at the beginning of the tournament that was our objective, to play six games. We're on our way. Tomorrow is number six," she told reporters. "We don't like this idea of being favourites. We know what it takes to be here, what we have to suffer, and we have to be focused." Sunday's final takes place at St. Jakob-Park stadium in Basel, with kick-off at 1800 CET (1600 GMT). REUTERS
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Straits Times
Women's Euros reach new peaks in Switzerland as final awaits
OBERENTFELDEN, Switzerland - The Women's Euros reach their climax with the final between holders England and Spain on Sunday, but before a ball is even kicked at the St. Jakob-Park stadium, records have been smashed at what has proved to be the most successful edition of the tournament. Before their quarter-final defeat by Spain, Swiss fans held up a banner saying "Time to move mountains", but by then the hosts already had, making the knockout stage for the first time as a fever for women's football swept the country -- and the continent. "I hope it was just a very, very important step to show Switzerland that women can play football really well -- not just Switzerland, but all the other teams as well," Swiss captain Lia Waelti said after the hosts exited the tournament. Fans at games in Switzerland have shattered attendance records, including the highest overall one ever, with the final still to be played. A record 623,088 fans attended games through the end of the semi-finals, obliterating the previous total of 574,875 fans who watched the entire England 2022 tournament. England's dramatic semi-final win over Italy in extra time gave British broadcaster ITV its biggest audience of the year with 10.2 million linear viewers, and another 17.2 million following the game on streaming platform ITV X. Fox Sports in the United States also reported a 176% increase in the number watching the semi-finals compared to 2022 as the tournament caught the imagination on the other side of the Atlantic. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Students hide vapes in underwear, toilet roll holders: S'pore schools grapple with vaping scourge Singapore 'I've tried everything': Mum helpless as son's Kpod addiction spirals out of control Singapore Almost half of planned 30,000 HDB flats in Tengah to be completed by end-2025: Chee Hong Tat Singapore Black belt in taekwondo, Grade 8 in piano: S'pore teen excels despite condition that limits movements Singapore As Asean looks to nuclear energy, public education efforts are needed: UN nuclear watchdog chief Asia Thousands rally in downtown Kuala Lumpur for resignation of PM Anwar Asia Death toll climbs as Thai-Cambodia clashes continue despite calls for ceasefire Asia Shunsaku Tamiya, who brought perfection to plastic race car models, dies at 90 It has not all, however, been plain sailing. The opening games were overshadowed by soaring temperatures that led to worries about player welfare and UEFA suspending rules around water bottles for fans. JOYOUS CELEBRATION There was also the death of Portugal international Diogo Jota and his brother in a car accident, which cast a pall over Portugal's opening game against Spain. In the end, the game itself honoured his memory by turning into a joyous celebration of Portuguese football, despite the team's defeat. The 16 teams in the group stage provided plenty of excitement, with Switzerland's late equaliser against Finland to snatch second place in their final Group A game stealing the plaudits as the most dramatic moment. Fans did not have long to wait for the next twist in the tale, as England came back from two goals down to beat Sweden after a chaotic penalty shootout in their quarter-final. Online critics hailed that shootout, with only five successful efforts out of 14, as one of the worst ever, ignoring Sweden keeper Jennifer Falk's exceptional performance in which she made four saves from English spot-kicks, yet still ended up on the losing side. England's Michelle Agyemang is the break-out star of the tournament, netting two vital equalisers as they flirted with disaster in the knockout stage and playing a major role in getting them to the final. Through it all, the Spaniards have ticked like a metronome, starting games slowly before gradually finding the solution to whatever opposition was in front of them and winning all five of their matches. Another win for the Spaniards against England will give them the European crown to add to their world and Nations League victories, confirming them as the dominant team. However, England's never-say-die mentality stands between them and that goal. No matter how that game turns out, the tournament has successfully sustained the momentum created at Euro 2022, and the trajectory for the women's game continues to move sharply upwards. REUTERS
