부산광역시해운대구체육회

5 Dec 2024
Milano Cortina lights up Christmas in Piazza Duomo
Lettura 5min
Le mascotte di Milano Cortina 2026 di fronte all'Albero dei Giochi a Milano
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For the second year in a row, the Organizing Committee of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, together with the Comune di Milano, is contributing to the magic of Christmas in Piazza del Duomo.

Wishing all the Milanese and tourists in the city happy holidays is a Picea Abies Excelsa (red spruce), 27.5 meters tall, sourced from Ponte di Legno in Val Camonica. This majestic tree, which lights up Milano’s festive season while symbolically embracing all the territories of the Games, had been destined to be cut due to safety concerns for nearby buildings, and will be fully recycled, adhering to circular economy principles.

The traditional Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Piazza Duomo was attended by Milano’s Mayor, Giuseppe Sala, the President of the Regione Lombardia, Attilio Fontana, and the CEO of Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026, Andrea Varnier.

“This tree,” said Andrea Varnier, CEO of Milano Cortina 2026, “celebrates the Winter Games, which will officially open in just over a year in Milano. I extend heartfelt thanks to Mayor Sala, President Fontana, and the various institutions that believed in and continue to support the Milano Cortina 2026 project. Equally, I thank Coca-Cola, Eni and Samsung, for making this wonderful project possible and for bringing the magic of Christmas to Piazza Duomo until January 6, 2025.”

L'accensione dell'Albero dei Giochi in piazza Duomo
 

Milano Shines with Sport
 

This year, the Christmas Tree is once again adorned with decorations inspired by the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Alongside traditional Christmas baubles and over 100,000 micro-LEDs powered entirely by certified renewable energy, the adorable Milano Cortina 2026 mascots, Tina and Milo, stand out. The steel tree base is used for the sixth consecutive year, the wooden platform for the third, and the snowflake-shaped tree topper crowns the spruce for the second year running. After the holiday season, with a circular economy perspective, the Consorzio Nazionale Sistema Arredo will ensure the recycling of the tree and the production of wooden planks that will be sent to local carpentry schools, contributing to the training of young artisans. The parts of the tree unsuitable for making the planks will be transformed into eco-friendly chipboard panels. Carbon emissions, such as those from the transport of the tree, will be measured and offset.

L'albero dei Giochi in piazza Duomo
 

The Magical Christmas Village
 

From 7 December, 2024, to 6 January, 2025, under the Christmas tree, visitors will be able to explore a Christmas village with engaging entertainment activities created by the partners who contributed to the project: Coca-Cola, Eni, and Samsung.

The Coca-Cola Christmas Village will offer a magical place to have fun while also giving back. In a dome house set up like a North Pole cottage, children can take photos with Santa Claus, while inside a wooden chalet, visitors can purchase Coca-Cola merchandise or use a gift-wrapping service, with all proceeds being donated to the Banco Alimentare.

Eni will offer to visitors a special area dedicated to taking souvenir photos with replicas of the Olympic and Paralympic mascots, Tina and Milo. It will be a unique opportunity to take home a memory of the holiday season celebrated in Piazza Duomo, next to the tree of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Inside the Samsung Christmas Sphere, visitors can immerse themselves in the Winter Games atmosphere by posing on a snowboard with a snowy backdrop and, thanks to Galaxy AI and its features, customize their photos in a spectacular way. Visitors will also be able to explore Samsung's Olympic history through The Heritage Tree and use the Galaxy AI Interpreter function to translate "Happy Holidays" greetings into the languages of the countries that have hosted the Olympic Games.

The iconic Spectaculars, the Olympic Rings and the Agitos, in giant size will also be present, offering both locals and tourists the opportunity to celebrate with a photo or selfie the magic of Christmas and, at the same time, the upcoming Winter Games in Italy.

 

Enjoy the Christmas Tree!
 

The countdown to 2025 and the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Games begins here.

The Tree of the Games is more than just a symbol of sport, hope, and inclusion; it serves as a landmark for citizens and visitors alike—a place to meet, exchange holiday wishes, and share the magic of Christmas, offering everyone a glimpse of the extraordinary adventure awaiting us in just over a year.


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