Torino 2006 Winter Olympics Mascot ‘Neve’

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

‘Neve’ means snow in Italian and she represents a snowball. With her curvy contour, Neve signifies fluidity and elegance. Together with her partner mascot ‘Gliz’, in the form of an ice cube, they symbolise the necessary elements for a successful Winter Games.

‘Neve’ wears a red suit, although according to the original design she was dressed in black to achieve a dynamic contrast with the white snow. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) found the colour selection too dark for children and such a festive event. It was subsequently changed to red by the designer.