2006 Olympic Games in Turin

A skier set against stylised graphic elements. The Italian Republic monogram "RI" appears at upper left, the mint mark "R" below it, and to the left a depiction of the Mole Antonelliana — Turin's iconic landmark — with the inscription "TORINO" beneath. At upper right, the inscription "GIOCHI INVERNALI" (Winter Games). To the skier's right, the issue year 2006 arranged vertically, and the initials "MCC" of designer Maria Carmela Colaneri.

In February 2006, Turin hosted the XX Olympic Winter Games — the first winter olympics in Italy since the Cortina d'Ampezzo Games of 1956. The Piedmontese metropolis, once the capital of the Kingdom of Sardinia and the first capital of unified Italy, welcomed athletes from more than 80 nations. Events were held partly in the city itself and partly in the surrounding Alpine valleys of Susa and Chisone, where ski races, biathlon and ski jumping took place. With around 2,500 athletes, the Games ranked among the largest Winter Olympics in history up to that point.

Turin itself is closely tied to Italy's industrial history — as the seat of Fiat, the city shaped the 20th century economically and socially. The city's striking landmark, the Mole Antonelliana, was originally planned as a synagogue in the 19th century and today houses the National Museum of Cinema, one of the most significant of its kind in Europe. With the Winter Olympics, Turin returned to the international spotlight in 2006, positioning itself as a modern cultural metropolis beyond its industrial image. Italy issued a 2-euro commemorative coin for the occasion, recalling the Winter Games and the host city.