You know what makes everyday life a little more awesome? The Olympics. And they're back! On February 12, the Winter Olympics start in Vancouver. Yay, something to watch on network tv. I know I'll make elaborate plans to watch the opening ceremonies in all their glory and then tune into at least the ice skating, ice dancing, and the LUGE. How can you not watch the LUGE?
Here's something curious about recent Games: they now have mascots.
I don't remember mascots before the last summer games. I know it's just a big marketing ploy for the host city, but these guys are adorable. And culturally significant:
Miga — A mythical sea bear, part orca and part kermode bear.
Quatchi — A sasquatch.
Sumi — An animal guardian spirit who wears the hat of the orca whale, flies with the wings of the mighty Thunderbird and runs on the strong furry legs of the black bear.
So, 10 points to Vancouver for Miga, Quatchi, and Sumi. If I were lucky enough to be attending these Games, I'd buy schwag with your faces on it.
But -100,000,000 points for the ACTUAL Vancouver 2010 logo. I think it's crude and scary. And that's after doing some research and finding out that it's named Ilanaaq--the Inuktitut word for friend. This guy is not my friend. He looks like a child's drawing of a hungry Frankenstein.
I'll still be watching on February 12 though :)
There have always been mascots -- I brought you hame a coloring sheet of all the mascots from the China games, remember? You were excited about them too:) They're called Fuwa -- google it, I can't post the link.
ReplyDeleteAlso, there have always been mascots -- when the games were in Seoul, my dad was in Asia for work and brought me back a letter opener with Hodori the Tiger on it:)
Yeah, I remember those China mascots...but I was speaking in the broader sense of the Games. Mascots have only been around since 1972. I don't remember them from the Games in the eighties or nineties at all but that's probably because fancy graphics weren't splashed around as much then.
ReplyDeleteThe first mascot was at the 1972 Munich games and it was a dachshund called Waldi. CUTE.
Ok, you need to get a job with the Chamber of Commerce. Every time I read one of your posts I want to be there. Now it's the Bagdad Cafe... keep it up! -Bill
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