Two Olympic cauldrons are set to honor Leonardo da Vinci at the upcoming Milano-Cortina Winter Games. Breaking new ground, organizers announced that these cauldrons in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo will be simultaneously lit and extinguished in separate locations for the first time in Olympic and Paralympic history. The design, inspired by Leonardo’s intricate knot patterns, features a sun-like structure. Milan, where Leonardo spent a significant portion of his life and created many renowned works, will host one cauldron at the Arco della Pace, while the other will be placed in Piazza Dibona in Cortina.
These cauldrons are designed to open and close, with a diameter ranging from 3.1 to 4.5 meters, housing the Olympic flame within a glass and metal container. The grand opening ceremony on Feb. 6 will see both cauldrons ignited simultaneously, with their flames burning until Feb. 22. Subsequently, the Paralympic flame will take over from March 6-15. Additionally, a captivating three to five-minute show will be presented hourly in the evenings at the Milan cauldron throughout the Olympic period.