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November 28, 2005
olympic mascots
i've never really been a big sports fan, unless of course you consider smokey bar billiards a sport. however, i've always been fascinated by the olympic mascot design and all it entails. great world-wide efforts are put into designing the little critter that will represent a time when all countries harmoniously play nice together. (and why can't we do that all the time, i wonder?) i remember Athena and Phevos, Greece 2004, simple yet funky, and transposed well into the myriad of sport themes held at such events. I remember Syd, Olly and Millie, Australia 2000, and thought they were quite an odd collection of color clashing animals. Aesthetically, I felt those 3 animals should never stand too close to one another. Izzy, USA 1996, by far, is the most ridiculous amorpheous creature I've ever seen, but, whatever. It was also the first mascot designed by computer. Cobi, Spain 1992, a little yuppie dog in a blue suit, was the first time I remember even caring about Olympic mascots.
And now... Beijing 2008.
I have to say, I'm impressed with the stories behind each of these little pandas. Although, never in Olympic history, has there been FIVE mascots for one game, but each one symbolizes something great about the Chinese culture. And they're names, put together in a the right order say "Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni" which means "Welcome to Beijing". They also represent the 5 elements, history, aspirations, dreams and landscapes. Kudos to whoever designed the 2008 Olympic mascots!
And 4 years from now, I'll be writing, somewhere:
I remember the cute little pandas, China 2008.
Posted by daiseykat at November 28, 2005 05:34 PM
Comments
Daisey, I love the pics of the five little pandas and their history. They will certainly be favorites among us all as reprsentatives of the Beijing Olympics----2008. Maybe we can all go!!
Ann and Earle
Posted by: traynham at November 28, 2005 10:57 PM