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Beijing 2022; Olympic and Paralympic mascots unveiled

Image: The Beijing Organising Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

 

Olympic Games: Bing Dwen Dwen

Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, and Minister of the General Administration of Sport of China and BOCOG Executive President Gou Zhongwen jointly unveiled Bing Dwen Dwen(冰墩墩), the official mascot for the Olympic Winter Games, along with Chinese short track speed skater Wu Dajing and local school student Zhang Jiman.

The jovial panda mascot is an ambassador for winter sports. Bing (冰) is the Chinese character for ice, while Dwen Dwen (墩墩) is a common nickname in China for children that implies healthiness, cuteness, and ingenuousness – characteristics also shared with pandas.

Clothed in a full body suit of ice, a symbol of purity and strength, Bing Dwen Dwen wants to emulate the physical and mental power of Olympians, and to help spread the enduring Olympic spirit. The heart shape in its left palm represents the host country’s hospitality, and the mascot is expected to connect and bring joy to people participating and watching the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 from all over the world.

The coloured halo surrounding its face is suggestive of ice and snow tracks, as well as the flowing “ribbons” on the exterior of the National Speed Skating Oval, one of two new competition venues in the Beijing zone that is expected to become a landmark of the Games.

The dynamic lines of the halo also embody the increased connectivity in the era of 5G communications. Resembling an astronaut, Bing Dwen Dwen stands for Beijing 2022’s embrace of new technologies that will bring about a future with infinite possibilities.

Source: The Beijing Organising Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (BOCOG)

 

Paralympic Games: Shuey Rhon Rhon

Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and BOCOG President Cai Qi, Governor of Hebei Province and BOCOG Executive President Xu Qin, Chairperson of the China Disabled Persons’ Federation and BOCOG Executive President Zhang Haidi, together with Chinese wheelchair curler Chen Jianxin and local student Wang Ruoyu, introduced Shuey Rhon Rhon to the audience as the official mascot for the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games.

Shuey Rhon Rhon (雪容融) is a Chinese lantern child ready to welcome friends from around the world for a big party. Exuding positivity, the glow emanating from its heart symbolises the inspiring warmth, friendship, courage, and perseverance of Para athletes that light up the dreams of millions every day.

The Chinese lantern is a millennia-old cultural symbol associated with harvest, celebration, prosperity, and brightness. Red is the most auspicious and festive colour in the country, and is all the more fitting given that the Games will coincide with Chinese New Year celebrations in February and March 2022.

The overall design on Shuey Rhon Rhon draws from traditional Chinese papercut art and Ruyi ornaments, and features doves, Beijing’s iconic Temple of Heaven, and snow to symbolise peace, friendship, and good fortune.

Shuey has the same pronunciation as 雪, the Chinese character for snow. The first Rhon (容) in the mascot’s Chinese name means “to include, to tolerate”, while the second Rhon (融) means “to melt, to fuse” and “warm”. The name expresses the hope that there would be more inclusion for people with impairments, and more dialogue and understanding between cultures of the world.

Source: The Beijing Organising Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (BOCOG)

 

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Tokyo 2020; Robot Project

Text: Press release Tokyo 2020
Images: Tokyo 2020 & Toyota Motor Corporation

 

Tokyo 2020 Mascot-type Robots

Photo: Tokyo 2020

The Miraitowa Robot and Someity Robot will welcome athletes and spectators at Games venues and other Games-related locations with human-like movements such as bowing and waving, and with a variety of facial expressions. Cameras mounted on the robots’ foreheads will allow them to recognise people nearby and to react to them, as well as to transmit images to remotely located robots. The Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee and Toyota are additionally discussing a number of ways for the robots to make it easier and more enjoyable for children to experience the Games.

Leaflet
Video 1
Video 2

 

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Seoul 1988; Design: Emblem, Pictograms, Poster, Mascot & Wayfinding

Emblem

Source: Seoul Olympic Games Official Report Volume One

 

Pictograms

Source: Seoul Olympic Games Official Report Volume One

 

Poster

Source: Seoul Olympic Games Official Report Volume One

 

Mascot

Source: Seoul Olympic Games Official Report Volume One

 

Wayfinding

Source: Seoul Olympic Games Official Report Volume One
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Beijing 2022; Design Competition for Olympic and Paralympic Games Mascots Launched

Press release (Source: Beijing Organising Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games);

 

Beijing 2022 Launches Design Competition for Olympic and Paralympic Games Mascots

Beijing 2022 today launched a global design competition for the mascots of the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, inviting people from around the world to come up with original designs for these important ambassadors of the Games.

At a ceremony held in Beijing’s Olympic Park, Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Beijing 2022 President Cai Qi declared the design competition officially open.

Mascots are among the most memorable symbols of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. Beijing 2022 looks forward to receiving creative design proposals from across the globe that embody Olympic and Paralympic values, affirm the vision of the 2022 Games, and reflect Chinese culture.

Designers could submit proposals to Beijing 2022 from October 20-31, 2018, in person or by mail. Beijing 2022 is expected to unveil the winning designs in the second half of 2019.

The launch ceremony for the design competition was held as part of an event to mark the 10-year anniversary of the Olympic Games Beijing 2008. The anniversary celebration also coincided with China’s 10th National Fitness Day, providing a fitting setting to look ahead to Beijing 2022 while celebrating the legacies of Beijing 2008.

The ceremony and the celebrations took place in the plaza between the “Bird’s Nest” National Stadium and the “Water Cube” National Aquatics Center. These two iconic Beijing 2008 venues will be used for Beijing 2022, serving as the opening and closing ceremonies venue and the curling venue, respectively.

When the new school year begins in September, elementary and secondary school students across China will be encouraged to create their own mascots for the Games in art classes, as part of Beijing 2022’s Olympic Education Program to engage more youth.

 

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Tokyo 2020; Mascots: Miraitowa and Someity

Mascots: Miraitowa (Olympic Games) and Someity (Paralympic Games)

Image: Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (TOCOG) on Twitter

 

Announcement video

 

Introduction

Origin of their names
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic mascot’s name was revealed as Miraitowa (pronounced mee-rah-e-toh-wa), based on the Japanese words mirai (future) and towa (eternity) combined. This name was chosen to promote a future full of eternal hope in the hearts of people all over the world.

The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic mascot’s name was revealed as Someity, (pronounced soh-may-tee) which comes from someiyoshino, a popular cherry blossom variety, and additionally echoes the English phrase “so mighty”. Someity has tactile cherry blossom sensors and exhibits enormous mental and physical strength. It represents Paralympic athletes who overcome obstacles and redefine the boundaries of what is possible.

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Miraitowa has the same indigo blue ichimatsu-patterns as the Tokyo 2020 Games Emblem on its head and body. The mascot’s personality is derived from a traditional Japanese proverb that means to learn old things well and to acquire new knowledge from them. The mascot has both an old-fashioned aspect that respects tradition and an innovative aspect that is in tune with cutting-edge information . It has a strong sense of justice, and is very athletic. The mascot has the special ability to move anywhere instantly.

Someity is a cool character with cherry blossom tactile sensors and super powers. It can send and receive messages telepathically using the cherry blossom antennae on both sides of its face. It can also fly using its ichimatsu-pattern cloak. It is usually quiet, but it can exhibit great power when necessary. It embodies Paralympic athletes that demonstrate superhuman power. It has a dignified inner strength and it also loves nature. It can talk to stones and wind by using its super power, and is also able to move things by just looking at them.

The duo finally made their debut today and are already anticipating a busy schedule ahead.

Between December 2017 and February 2018, more than 75% of the elementary schools in Japan and a number of overseas Japanese schools took part in a selection process and voted for their favourite set of mascot designs.

Miraitowa and Someity live in the digital world, and can move freely between there and the real world via the internet.

 

Source: Website Tokyo 2020

 

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YOG – Buenos Aires 2018; Youth Olympic Games Mascot Unveiled

Buenos Aires 2018 unveiled the official mascot for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games on Monday. Read the press release by Buenos Aires 2018 below:

 

We are pleased to present #Pandi, the mascot for the next Youth Olympic Games that was inspired by the jaguar. It aims to encourage youth to embrace sport as a tool to build a better world, while also raising awareness about the dangers faced by the species.

The Olympic mascots are ambassadors to the Games and play a fundamental role in spreading the event’s message and the Olympic values of friendship, respect, and excellence among different audiences, especially children and youth.

The Buenos Aires 2018 Organising Committee has launched its Youth Olympic mascot. Inspired by the jaguar, one of the most emblematic wild cat species found in northern Argentina, the mascot aims to inspire youth to embrace sport as a tool to make the world a better place, while also raising awareness about the species’ risk of extinction.

The mascot will be named #Pandi, with a “hashtag” at the beginning to demonstrate its strong online profile.

In the animated short, our young jaguar doesn’t give up when faced with challenges as it tries to reach the ribbons with colours that symbolise Buenos Aires 2018.

During the race it uses the positive energy of the sports found on the Youth Olympic programme to overcome all kinds of obstacles. It starts off with a breaking move; it demonstrates its skill in jumping over various hurdles; it defies gravity with a pole vault; and it ascends quickly just like in sport climbing.

Exhaustion can’t even get in the way of its final goal, to reach the Obelisk in downtown Buenos Aires, where it’s embraced by the ribbons to become the mascot for the third summer edition of the Youth Olympic Games.

With perseverance and the festive spirit it reveals upon reaching its goal, #Pandi symbolises the desire for Buenos Aires 2018, the first edition of an Olympic celebration with strict gender equality, to serve as an important source of inspiration to build a better world through sport.

“Like the young athletes that give their best to qualify for the Games, the Buenos Aires 2018 mascot overcomes all types of adversity to reach its goals”, said the president of the Buenos Aires 2018 Organising Committee, Gerardo Werthein.

The Olympic mascots are ambassadors to the Games and play a fundamental role in spreading the event’s message and the Olympic values of friendship, respect, and excellence among different audiences, especially children and youth.

The jaguar, found in Argentina’s northern region, is in great danger due to human causes. Various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have warned about the risk of extinction as a result of the destruction of their natural habitat and hunting.

The Buenos Aires 2018 mascot was designed by the Argentine agency Human Full Agency. The short animation was made by the local production company, Buda TV.

Source: Buenos Aires 2018
Full article: The mascot born in Argentina for the celebration of sport and equality