Meet Milo and Tina: Italy's Gen Z Olympic Mascots

When Italian students were asked to dream up mascots for the 2026 Winter Olympics, they delivered something special: two energetic stoats named after their host cities. Milo and Tina are bringing fresh energy to the Games as the "first openly Gen Z mascots," complete with scarves, personality, and a backstory that celebrates both creativity and resilience.

The journey started in classrooms across Italy, where over 1,600 entries poured in from primary and secondary school students. After narrowing it down to two finalists, the public chose the sporty stoats over a pair of mountain flowers. The winning design came from students in Calabria, and organizers unveiled the duo in February 2024.

Tina, the cream-colored Olympics mascot with a brown-tipped tail, is a city girl who loves concerts and creative expression. "I like to explore, to try new things, to change," her bio reads. But every winter, she returns to the mountains to reunite with her brother and friends.

Milo represents the Paralympics with his brown coat and white belly. He was born without a paw but learned to walk using his tail, turning what could have been a limitation into his superpower. "Obstacles, if you take a good look at them and understand how to approach them, become super trampolines," his bio explains.

The choice of stoats carries deeper meaning beyond their undeniable cuteness. These animals, native to the Italian Alps, change their fur color with the seasons and thrive in challenging mountain habitats. Organizers saw them as perfect symbols of adaptability and resilience.

The Ripple Effect

This mascot selection process did more than create ambassadors for the Games. By inviting thousands of students to participate, Italy turned mascot design into a nationwide classroom project that got young people excited about the Olympics. Six snowdrop flowers called The Flo will accompany Milo and Tina, a nod to the runner-up design that ensures even more students see their creativity celebrated on the world stage.

Stoats belong to the mustelid family and have been symbols of purity and nobility for centuries. Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting "Lady with an Ermine" showcases their historical prestige. Despite their small size, these agile creatures can take on prey five times larger than themselves.

Milo and Tina plushies are already appearing in Olympic venues, ready to welcome athletes and spectators from around the world. They represent a future that honors differences, respects the environment, and embraces the unstoppable spirit of youth.

The 2026 Winter Olympics open in Milan in exactly two years, and these two cheerful weasels are already making the world smile.