Two cauldrons for the upcoming Milano-Cortina Winter Games will honor the legacy of Leonardo da Vinci. This marks a historic moment as, for the first time in Olympic and Paralympic Games history, two cauldrons will be ignited and extinguished simultaneously in separate locations – Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. The design of the cauldrons takes inspiration from Leonardo’s intricate knot patterns, reflecting his connection to Milan where he spent a significant part of his life creating iconic works of art.
The cauldrons are designed to be dynamic, capable of opening and closing, with a diameter ranging from 3.1 to 4.5 meters. They will cradle the Olympic flame within a glass and metal enclosure. Positioned at the Arco della Pace in Milan and Piazza Dibona in Cortina, these cauldrons will be ignited concurrently during the grand opening ceremony on February 6 and extinguished on February 22. Subsequently, they will host the Paralympic flame from March 6 to 15.
Additionally, a special nightly show lasting three to five minutes will take place hourly at the Milan cauldron throughout the Olympics, adding a touch of spectacle to the event.
