"A sound mind in a sound body" is the guiding principle with which Eli Lilly, the pharmaceutical multinational founded in 1876, presents its approach to the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games Milano-Cortina 2026, of which it is an official sponsor.
At Spazio IlluMi on Via Giuseppe Mazzini in Milan, the company illustrated the main initiatives that will accompany the Games, in an event moderated by journalist Emma D'Aquino.
The common thread is summarized in the claim: "Beyond limits, sport and science together to overcome every challenge", which expresses the intent to create a dialogue between scientific innovation and sporting resilience.
According to Elias Khalil, president and general manager of Lilly's Italy Hub, Milano-Cortina represents an opportunity to "celebrate the strength of facing great challenges in public health".
The project aims to spread a culture of wellness, showing how determination and scientific progress share the same drive toward overcoming limits.
The Live Sites in Milan and Cortina will be the heart of Eli Lilly's activities during the Games.
Interactive installations and immersive settings will offer a journey that unites the company's scientific achievements -- from penicillin G to recombinant DNA insulins -- with the stories of athletes and patients.
A symbolic red thread will connect Piazza del Cannone in Milan and Piazza Angelo Dibona in Cortina, telling how sport and research share the same logic of experimentation, failure, and rebirth.
Starting February 6, 2026, Lilly will also launch "Never Over", a television campaign that translates the values of science and sport into the visual language of the Games.
The protagonists of the spot will be Sofia Goggia, Arianna Fontana, Davide Bendotti, and Marta Bassino, who shared her experience of recovering from an injury as a symbol of resilience.
Nevio Devidè, Chief Revenue Officer of the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation, emphasized that collaboration with Lilly "consolidates the social value of the Games, promoting inclusion and participation".
Among the most significant initiatives is "The Impossible Gym -- Winter Edition", an installation open to the public until February 22 in Piazza dei Mercanti.
Winter sports and equipment frozen in ice become a metaphor for the difficulties of those living with obesity, a chronic disease often stigmatized.
The objective is to raise public awareness about the importance of a scientific and inclusive approach, with meetings involving clinicians, nutritionists, and patient associations.
During the presentation, the president of the Milan City Council, Elena Buscemi, highlighted the need to promote sport as a tool for prevention and social cohesion.
Khalil concluded by recalling the shared vision between Lilly and Milano-Cortina: "Build an inclusive and sustainable future, not only in sports but also in people's health. Our goal is to leave a lasting legacy beyond the Games".
