What were the official Olympic mascots of Turin 2006 called?

Neve and Gliz were the official Olympic mascots of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.

Neve was a female snowball wearing red and symbolized snow, softness, friendship and elegance. Gliz was a male ice cube wearing blue and represented ice, enthusiasm and joy. Their designs translated the essential elements of winter sport into two human-like characters.

The names also carry an Italian connection: “neve” means “snow,” while Gliz is derived from “ghiaccio,” meaning “ice.” Portuguese designer Pedro Albuquerque created both mascots after an international selection process.

Organizers received 237 proposals for the Olympic mascot competition. The winning designs were presented on September 28, 2004—exactly 500 days before the Games opened. Aster, another Albuquerque creation, was the mascot of the 2006 Winter Paralympics, so it is a common mistake to include Aster among the Olympic mascots.