Torino 2006 Winter Olympics Mascot 'Gliz'

Designed by Portuguese artist Pedro Albuquerque, ‘Gliz’ was one of the two official mascots of the 2006 Winter Olympics that took place in Turin, Italy.

‘Gliz’ is a nod to the Italian word ‘ghiaccio’, which means ice. In the form of an ice cube, he reflects power and strength with his compact shape and angular contour. Together with his partner mascot ‘Neve’, in the form of a snowball, they symbolise the necessary elements for a successful Winter Games.

‘Gliz’ wears a blue suit, although according to the original design, similar to the other official mascot ‘Neve’, he was dressed in black to achieve a dynamic contrast with the white snow. The International Olympic Committee found the colour selection too dark and it was subsequently changed to blue by the designer.