Latest news with #Paralympics
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Medals for 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics revealed ahead of next February's events
Medals for 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics revealed ahead of next February's events originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia The world's best athletes now know what they're competing for next winter. Advertisement Organizers for the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics and Paralympics revealed the medals for the Games at a ceremony in Venice, Italy, on Tuesday. With Milan Cortina being the first Olympics having two host cities in the name, the medals are split to represent 'two halves coming together.' Take a look at the medals, which are unique for the Olympics and Paralympics: The unique split design symbolize 'not only the union of two cities, Milan and Cortina, but also the soul of victory and the effort it takes to achieve it,' according to the Olympics. The medals feature the Olympic or Paralympic logo on one side, with the Games' logos on the other with specific events engraved depending on the sport. Advertisement The medals are being produced by Italy's state mint, the Zecca dello Stato, 'using recycled metal recovered from its own production waste. They will be cast in induction furnaces powered entirely by renewable energy, with eco-friendly packaging made with FSC-certified materials and minimal use of plastics.' After some of the medals from the 2024 Paris Olympics quickly lost their shine, organizers emphasized that these medals won't have the same problem. 'I can assure you they won't deteriorate,' Milan-Cortina organizing committee president Giovanni Malagò said. 'They could even be recycled, although I hope nobody will do that.' There will be 735 Olympic medals (245 gold, 245 silver, and 245 bronze) and 411 Paralympic medals (137 gold, 137 silver, and 137 bronze) awarded in Italy this coming February. Advertisement Medals from past Olympics var pymParent = new ' {title: ', parenturlparam: ', parenturlvalue: '}); The 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics will take place from Feb. 6-22, followed by the Paralympics from March 6-15. All events will be spread throughout northern Italy, with most taking place in the Milan and Cortina areas.
France 24
an hour ago
- Sport
- France 24
Milan-Cortina Olympic medals unveiled
"We conceived a medal that represents purity and a return to essence," explained Raffaella Panie, the organising committee's brand director. "We celebrate the strength found in difference: two unique halves that join through the Olympic and Paralympic symbols to deliver a bold and unified message. "This concept is also reflected in the surfaces of the medals, where two textures meet and begin a story written not only by the athletes and Para athletes, but also by those who supported them: coaches, teammates, family members, and fans." Federica Pellegrini, Italy's 200m freestyle swimming champion at the 2008 Beijing Games, was chosen to front the presentation in Venice. The medals, 1,146 for both the Olympics and Paralympics, are 80mm in diameter and 10mm thick, with the gold medals weighing in at 500 grammes. They were designed by the Italian national mint, the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato. The 2026 Games will run from February 6-22, with the Paralympics taking place between March 6-15. At last year's Paris Olympics over 200 medals became discoloured due to oxidisation, with the French mint (Monnaie de Paris) promising to replace them. © 2025 AFP
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Milan-Cortina Olympic medals unveiled
Organisers of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics unveiled the medals for the Winter sports spectacular on Tuesday, designed to pay hommage to athletes and the team behind them. "We conceived a medal that represents purity and a return to essence," explained Raffaella Panie, the organising committee's brand director. Advertisement "We celebrate the strength found in difference: two unique halves that join through the Olympic and Paralympic symbols to deliver a bold and unified message. "This concept is also reflected in the surfaces of the medals, where two textures meet and begin a story written not only by the athletes and Para athletes, but also by those who supported them: coaches, teammates, family members, and fans." Federica Pellegrini, Italy's 200m freestyle swimming champion at the 2008 Beijing Games, was chosen to front the presentation in Venice. The medals, 1,146 for both the Olympics and Paralympics, are 80mm in diameter and 10mm thick, with the gold medals weighing in at 500 grammes. Advertisement They were designed by the Italian national mint, the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato. The 2026 Games will run from February 6-22, with the Paralympics taking place between March 6-15. At last year's Paris Olympics over 200 medals became discoloured due to oxidisation, with the French mint (Monnaie de Paris) promising to replace them. jr/alh/nr/nf
Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
WA teen in race towards ‘dream' of competing at Deaflympics
For the next 100 days, Mandurah teen William Liitiaeinen will be training for his goal of competing at the 2025 Deaflympics in Tokyo. This will be the first time the 19-year-old runner will compete at the Deaflympics after qualifying this summer. 'It means a huge deal to me. It means that I can proudly wear green and gold and make my nation proud of my performances in Tokyo on the track,' Liitiaeinen said. 'It's been a big goal and dream of mine and has been my drive to train hard.' Liitiaeinen started running in 2017 aged 11 and two years later started down the competitive path. The 19-year-old is deaf in both ears without his cochlear implants, which poses unique challenges. 'When it comes to training near or on the road, I can't hear cars or other people. This poses a risk and I need to be extra aware with my other senses as to what I'm doing,' he said. 'I require a reaction-based start since no light is available and it adds extra seconds to my time since I have a delayed start. 'An example would be my 1500m … If I had a light to start, I would have shaved an extra two to three seconds off my time, which would have gotten me the qualifying time and the Open T01 Deaf National Record.' William Liitiaeinen. Credit: Supplied Deaf athletes also face unique challenges as to where they can compete or what training support they qualify for. In Australia, Liitiaeinen can compete with other para-athletes in track and cross-country, but faces a handicap. 'The sports world is slowly starting to become more inclusive to include deaf people by having an event for us,' Liitiaeinen. 'On the world stage, however, it does lack. The deaf classification is one of the very few classifications not recognised in the Paralympics or World Athletics Para events, so it does restrict the international opportunities that we deaf people have. 'Another thing that could be improved on the inclusive side of things in Australia is that the State and Australian government announced a deal for para-athletes to train at WAIS (WA Institute of Sport) and AIS (Australian Institute of Sports), however it only applies to Paralympic athletes and Deaflympic athletes won't get the same opportunity despite being a para class and competing on the world stage for Australia. 'So there is definitely some room for improvement.' There is also no financial support for Deaflympians or TV coverage. 'I don't think there is enough coverage or support,' Liitiaeinen said. 'It is not broadcast on TV like the Olympics … most people don't even know what the Deaflympics is until I talk about it and explain it to them. 'There's not much support for it either as every athlete has to pay or fundraise $6500 each to compete for Australia; (this covers) flights, accommodation, travel, uniforms, and entry fees. 'This does not include food which is another expense on top of this. The Deaflympics is a recognised event by the International Olympic Committee and the Australian government does not offer any support or funding to send athletes over.' Liitiaeinen has started a GoFundMe to help pay for this and so he can compete in the 1500m and 5000m divisions. While competing at Athletics West he starts when someone taps his back after the gun goes off or when everyone else moves. This means his times can be a couple seconds slower than they should be. In Tokyo, Liitiaeinen hopes to shave these seconds from his run as the Deaflympics uses start lights to signify go for the runners. 'We currently don't have this system available in Perth to use,' Liitiaeinen said. William Liitiaeinen. Credit: Supplied 'The accommodations I need during races are to make people aware of my deafness and if required have someone come and tap my shoulder to start. 'In State and National events, I also need someone to come and grab my cochlears as I take them off when I race at the start line after hearing the briefing. 'At training I just have to make sure to get my instructions from my coach before I start training where I take my cochlears off.' He will be heading to Tokyo alongside his training partner Josh Reeve. The pair both train under Suzi Graves. 'I hope to send a message to other deaf people that anything is possible when you put your mind to it, and I'm hoping that it helps open the door to more deaf people realising the opportunities and wanting to compete,' Liitiaeinen said. Liitiaeinen fits a gruelling daily training schedule around his heavy diesel mechanical apprenticeship and hopes to compete at the 2028 Oceania Deaf Games, the Deaf World Championship and Deaf World Cross Country events in the future. The Deaflympics is a four-yearly event, with the 25th Summer Games going for 12 days from November 15 to 26.
Reuters
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Italy showcases medals for 2026 Winter Games
VENICE, Italy, July 15 (Reuters) - Organisers of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics unveiled on Tuesday the medals that will be awarded to athletes during the Games next year. 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.
