Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic bid logo sparks widespread criticism
The joint bid by Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo to host the 2026 Winter Olympics has been overshadowed by controversy over its logo, widely derided as amateurish and clichéd. Presented at the 23rd ANOC General Assembly in Tokyo by CONI president Giovanni Malagò, Veneto governor Luca Zaia, Milan mayor Giuseppe Sala, and Olympic champion Arianna Fontana, the logo features a tricolor mountain incorporating the silhouette of Milan's Duomo and a ski slope. Critics, including designer Giulio Iacchetti, lambasted it on social media as "old," "banal," and "made by dilettantes." The logo was reportedly created in-house at CONI at zero cost. Malagò clarified that it is only a candidacy logo, not the official Olympic logo, which would be selected through a competition if the bid succeeds. The bid faces only Stockholm as rival.
Key facts
- Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo are bidding to host the 2026 Winter Olympics.
- The bid was presented at the 23rd ANOC General Assembly in Tokyo.
- The logo features a tricolor mountain shaped like Milan's Duomo with a ski slope.
- Giulio Iacchetti criticized the logo as amateurish on Facebook.
- The logo was created internally at CONI at zero cost.
- Giovanni Malagò stated the logo is only for the candidacy, not the official event.
- If the bid wins, a separate competition will be held for the official logo.
- The only other candidate is Stockholm.
Entities
Artists
- Giulio Iacchetti
Institutions
- CONI
- Sky Sport
- Artribune
Locations
- Milan
- Italy
- Cortina d'Ampezzo
- Tokyo
- Japan
- Stockholm
- Sweden