 The Italian tricolor cockade is one of the symbols of the Italian Air Force and one of its fabric reproductions is sewn onto the meshes of the sports teams holding the Italian Cups which are organized in various national team sports.The emblem of the Italian Republic () was formally adopted by the newly formed Italian Republic on 5 May 1948.Although often referred to as a coat of arms (or in Italian), it is technically an emblem akin to so-called socialist heraldry as it was not designed to conform to traditional heraldic rules.