A
mascot is defined as any person, animal or object thought to bring
'luck' ...or anything used to represent a group with a common public
identity such as: a school, professional sports, society, military
unit or brand name. Mascots are also used as fictional,
representative spokespeople for consumer products. Costumed mascots
are commonplace and are regularly used as 'goodwill ambassadors' in
the community for their team, company or organization...such as the
U.S. Forest Services's “Smokey Bear”. Many sports teams (U.S.
especially) have official mascots...sometimes enacted by 'costumed
humans' or even live animals...e.g. “Thunder II ~ a live 'white
horse mascot' for the Denver Broncos. (I
can just imagine him galloping around the field when touchdowns
scored!)
Consider all the animals/birds used in today's merchandise
marketing...to catch our attention! It's a strong effective medium
to promote anything and everything from cereal boxes, to pop, tires,
clothing, cars and truck names...and the list is innumerable.
A few years ago, a friend's sister, developing a home job, designed
and made specific swimwear, cycle racing clothing, etc. for sports
persons and clubs competing locally, provincially and nationally.
Her name was Elizabeth, usually called Liz...her logo on all designs
was a 'Lizard'.
Currently, one of the major sponsors of the Pan American Games
TORONTO 2015 is a bank whose advertisement is priceless: believe
they are husband and pigeons(?) about to deposit cheques into the
bank...when she advises him about an automatic deposit...he then
looks for more cheques in the mail.
This topic of 'mascots' intrigued me when being introduced to PACHI
(a raccoon) as the “Mascot of the Games”. He is so
delightful...and to think he was created with imagination by four
Grade 8 students in Markham, Ontario. Significant in meaning, they
won the contest among the hundreds of entries.
Of
interest, are the “Mascots” over the years
selected
for the Olympic Games.
The
Olympic mascots are fictional characters...usually an animal, native
to the area or human figures who represent the cultural
heritage of the place where
the Olympic and Paralympic Games are taking place. The 'mascots' are
often used 'to help market ' the Olympic Games to a younger audience.
History:
The first Olympic mascot was born at the
Grenoble Olympics in 1968 in France:
It was named SCHUSS ~ a
little man on skis,
designed in an abstract form and painted in the colours of France
(blue, red and white). However, the
first official Olympic mascot
appeared in the 1972
Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany: It
was WALDI ~
a Dachshund dog,
a popular breed in Bavaria and it represented the attributes required
for athletes: resistance,
tenacity and agility. On
it we see 3 of the colours of the Olympic flag: blue, yellow, green.
Mascots are designed in a simple
manner with
bright, happy colours appropriate for the 'festive atmosphere' of the
Olympics.
1976
Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria:
Mascot ~ SCHNEEMAN...its character a Snowman.
Significance...it represents “Games of Simplicity”.
1976
Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada:
AMIK was a beaver
wearing a broad black and red band around its body with the Olympic
rings impressed on it. The beaver, one of Canada's national symbols.
1980
Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, United States:
Mascot ~ RONI a
raccoon.
Its face design resembles the hat and goggles used by competitors.
Named for the Adirondack Mountain range.
1980
Summer Olympics in Moscow, Russia:
MISHA, a bear
cub...national
symbol of the Soviet Union.
1984
Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia:
VUKO, a little
wolf
symbolizing the desire of humans to befriend animals. According to
the IOC, it helped change the common perception in the region of
wolves as frightening and blood-thirsty.
1984
Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, United States:
SAM, a bald
eagle,
symbol of United States.
1988
Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada:
HIDY and HOWDY...2 polar
bears,
both representing Western Canada and Albertan hospitality.
1988
Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea:
HODORI a tiger
cub...common
in Korean legends.
1992
Winter Olympics in Albertville, France:
MAGIQUE a man-star/snow
imp.
1992
Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain:
COBI a Catalan
sheepdog
(drawn in Cubic style).
1994
Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway:
HAK and KRISTEN...2 Norwegian
children
dressed in Viking clothing.
(Note the change in years:)
1996
Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States:
IZZY...an abstract figure being the first computer-generated
mascot.
1998
Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan:
SUKKI,
NOKKI,
LEKKI
and TSUKKI...the
Snowlets
representing the 4 major islands in Japan. (The first syllable of
each word continues phonetically).
2000
Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia:
OLLY (the kookaburra) representing the Olympic spirit of generosity;
SYD (platypus) representing the environment and energy of the people;
MILLIE (echidna) representing the Millenium. FATSO (the Fat-Arsed
wombat)
created in protest against the commercialization of the Olympic
mascots...this unofficial symbol ultimately became more popular than
the official mascots).
2002
Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, United States:
POWDER, the snowshoe
hare,
COPPER, the
coyote,
and COAL, the American
black bear.
All three mascots are indigenous animals of the United State of
Utah...and are named after natural resources, important to the
state's economy. These animals are major characters in the legends
of local American Indians and these legends are reflected in the
story of each mascot. To remind them of this heritage, all mascots
wear a charm around their neck with a petroglyph
image.
2004
Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece:
ATHENA and PHEVOS (brother and sister) are two
modern children
representing ancient Greek dolls...inspired by a bell-shaped archaic
sculpture that is on display at the National Archaeological Museum in
Athens. They symbolize the 'Joy of Play' and 'the Value of
Olympism'...and was purposely made to promote the values of equality
and brotherhood.
2006
Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy:
NEVE and GLIZ a snowball
and ice cube.
2008
Summer Olympics in Beijing, China:
The FUWA ~ BEIBEI (fish),
JINGJING (giant
panda),
HUANHAUN (Olympic
flame),
YINGYING (Tibetan
antelope),
NINI (swallow).
The five words means, “Welcomes You'. Each represent an Olympic
ring and Feng Shui element.
2010
Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada:
MIGA a mythical
sea bear...part
Orca and Kermode Bear; QUATCHI a sasquatch
from Canadian mythology; MUKMUK a Vancouver
Island marmot...not
an official mascot of British Columbia, but their 'sidekick'.
The
INUKSHUK is an Inuit symbol designed as a directional marker,
signifying safety,
hope and friendship. The
Inukshuk, built in the likeness of a human, is a man-made stone
landmark used by Inuit and other peoples of the Arctic region in
North America...found from Alaska to Greenland. It is built and used
as a marker for a sacred place...an aid for hunting and fishing or a
navigation tool.
2012
Summer Olympics in London, England:
WENLOCK~ drops
of steel with cameras for eyes.
Named after the village of Much Wenlock in Shropshire which hosted a
precursor to the modern Games in the 19th
century. It represents the UK's Industrial Revolution.
2014
Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia:
BELI MISHKA (Polar
Bear),
SNOW LEOPARD and ZAIKA ( the dore
hare).
These were the first mascots decided by popular vote.
2016
Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:
VINICIOUS...and animal representing all
Brazilian mammals...inspired
by Brazilian fauna. Named after the poet and 'bossa nova' composer
Vinicious de Moraes...decided by popular vote.
2018 Winter Olympics to be in Peongchang,...
and 2020 Summer Games to be in Tokyo.
Each selected Olympic country hosts the Olympic Games &
Paralympic Games which follow. Each selected Pan American country hosts the Pan American Games &
Parapan American Games
That the host countries, through their mascots, present a theme,
conveying significant messages, it is not only of great interest but
encourages players and spectators to adopt these principles,
enhancing our lives...and those of others. The sponsors of
Vancouver's Winter Olympics and the current Pan American Games
Toronto 2015...have been the First Nations and the Six Nations
indigenous peoples. We have much to learn from wise and sage words
spoken by their elders and chiefs.
It's having the knowledge of your culture;
It's having respect for your mothers and grandmothers.
It is the language and fluency.
As we say,“That's Harmony...that's what we strive for.”
(Indian adage)
The hearts of little children are pure;
the Great Spirit may show to them,
many things we older people miss. (Black Elk)
Our Spiritual belief is that we were created as part of the land;
so our identity, our names and our songs are all tied to the land.
(Chief Roderick Robinson)
Respect means listening until everyone has been understood.
Only then, is there a possibility of balance and harmony.
(Dave Chief...Grandfather of Red Dog)
Merle Baird-Kerr...crafted July 12, 2015
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