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Mascots and the Olympics

Saturday, 23 August 2008 11:36

by AmyNutt

The first Olympic mascot was introduced in 1972 at the Munich games. These mascots have become a very important element of the Olympics. It is an image that is unique and very popular because it materializes the spirit of the Olympics, promotes the history, and communicates the overall concept. This makes the Olympic mascot a must when it comes to the games. It is a must for children, for the general public, to display the uniqueness of each geographical area, and to relay the culture of the host city.

Waldi, the dachshund was the very first mascot in 1972. This is because the dachshund is a great representation of tenacity, resilience, and agility, which are the key elements an athlete possesses. This explains why he was a great choice as the first Olympic mascot. He was dressed in multiple pastel colors to express the joy and the gaiety of the Olympics. The introduction of the Olympic mascot was perhaps the most memorable mascot moment.

Other memorable mascots

Hidy and Howdy were the mascots for the 1988 Calgary Winter Games, but some never quite understood the concept of brother and sister bears that were inseparable. In some cases, individuals claimed that this was a bit creepy with a bit of cuteness thrown in there. The two were dressed in cowboy and cowgirl clothes, which has a lot to do with the fact that Calgary's nickname is 'Cowtown.' However, Hidy and Howdy were, in fact, polar bears.

Another interesting fact about mascots is the death of Rocky, who was to be the mascot for the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Games. There was a mystery surrounding this mascot because Rocky mysteriously "passed away" before the Olympics ever began. Rocky was then replaced by Roni, a cartoon raccoon.

However, one of the most elegantly crafted mascots was that created by Walt Disney. Sam the Eagle is probably one of the most famous mascots that the Olympics have ever seen. He was created for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. He wore the legendary clothes of Uncle Sam. He also held his version of the torch held by the statue of liberty. It was at this point that commercial use of the mascots was permitted. Beforehand, it had not, but Walt Disney's design of Sam the Eagle marked a new precedent when it came to Olympic mascots.

2008 Beijing Summer Olympics

The Beijing Summer Olympics consists of five dolls. Their names are Beibei, Jingjing, Huanhaun, Yingying, and Nini. Each symbolizes something different. An example is that Nini is a symbol of infinite sky. It is a representation of the green Olympic ring. The rest are as follows:

- Beibei - A reflection of the strength in water sports. It is a representation of the blue Olympic ring. - Jingjing - Shows the strength in athletics. It is a representation of the black Olympic ring. - Huanhuan - Reflects the excellence in ball games. It is a representation of the red Olympic ring. - Yingying - Relfects the strength in track and field events. It is a representation of the yellow Olympic ring.

These custom mascots were designed by Han Meilin. He said it was impossible for a single figure to reflect the magnitude of these Olympic games. That is because China has a very intense and diverse culture that cannot be summed up in just one mascot. This makes the 2008 Summer Olympics the first in which 5 mascots were used. The most before that point was 3 used in the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics. Those mascots were Olly, Syd, and Millie and were said to have been upstaged by a series of unofficial mascots that were created that year. However you look at it, mascots have certainly created many memories for the Olympics.

About the Author:

Builders of the World's Most Loveable Mascots. Designing custom mascots such as Sports mascots, corporate mascots, entertainment mascots and more.