Buzz
It’s Olympic season, which means one thing is certain: a bunch of people donning hilarious costumes. And no, we're not talking about the athletes. Since the introduction of the first official mascot in 1972 – 'Waldi,' the dachshund from the Munich Olympics in Germany – mascots have become an essential part of the Olympic experience. They're used as a fun way to celebrate the host nation's traditions and the overall spirit of the Games. However, while these mascots are often well-meaning, some are more bizarre than intended. Here are ten of the wildest Olympic mascots ever.
10. Schneeman the Snowman
During the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, Schneeman was introduced as the mascot. A stubby snowman with a Tyrolean cowboy hat, Schneeman was meant to symbolize both Austria’s heritage and the wintry theme of the Games. Referred to as the ‘Games of Simplicity,’ the mascot’s odd appearance – a torso-head hybrid with molded shoes and gloves – made him more resemble a character from the M&M’s commercials than an actual snowman.
9. Hidy and Howdy
Deliberately named after colloquial greetings, these cowboy-clad polar bears were intended to embody the welcoming nature of Western Canada. Created for the 1988 Calgary Olympics, the oversized bear suits, with their unsettling five o’clock shadows, didn’t quite convey hospitality as much as they did discomfort. Rather than feeling warm and friendly, they resembled poorly made teddy bears, which became even more eerie considering that a grown man, possibly drenched in sweat, was hidden inside.
8. Magique
The 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France introduced another quirky symbol to the snowy festivities with ‘Magique the snow imp,’ a fantastical being that blends man and star in a way that defies scientific explanation. This mascot embodies creativity, dreams, and the idea of ‘reaching for the stars,’ serving as a reminder that the Olympic Games are not solely focused on victories or regulations. Interestingly, ‘Magique’ was chosen over a more grounded option, ‘Chamois the mountain goat.’
7. Hakon and Kristin
Hakon and Kristin, two Norwegian children, served as the mascots for the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. While their youthful innocence is portrayed through their smiles and hand-holding, it’s somewhat overshadowed by their attire, which includes traditional Viking clothing. Vikings, of course, were infamous for their violent and savage reputation—at least according to much of history’s one-sided narrative. Given its strong ties to Norwegian heritage, one might have hoped for a representation of a gentler side of history.
6. Izzy
Izzy could have easily been mistaken for a giant question mark. Initially unveiled at the close of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics under the name ‘Whatizit,’ this mascot was later reworked for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Created by the design firm DESIGNefx, the final version took the shape of a vague, blue, shapeless blob with a face and tennis shoes. While it didn’t embody any distinct U.S. traditions or patriotism, it was the first mascot designed on a computer, likely representing the rise of the digital era. However, it bore more resemblance to a melted computer mouse than anything symbolic. Despite its strange design, Izzy appeared in TV specials and video games, all of which highlighted the mascot’s rather vague significance.
5. Athena and Phevos
The 2004 Summer Olympics marked the second official Olympic Games held in Greece since the ancient Games, originally created by the Greeks to honor Zeus. To honor this deep-rooted tradition, the Greek officials introduced two child mascots – Athena and Phevos – who were designed to represent the present day but were also styled after ancient Greek dolls, symbolizing a blend of antiquity and modernity. The outcome, however, was a quirky duo that resembled Erlenmeyer flasks with oversized feet and elongated necks. Perhaps ancient children looked like this... though it seems unlikely.
4. Neve and Gliz
Although these mascots are undeniably adorable and were featured in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, Neve and Gliz were designed to represent the winter season in a very straightforward way. Neve, whose name means ‘snow’ in Italian, took the form of a man with a snowball for a head, while Gliz, short for the Italian word for ice, 'ghiaccio,' served as Neve's icy counterpart, looking like an ice cube. Together, they resembled characters similar to the Blockheads from the animated show Gumby. Interestingly, the snowball was intended to be a chick, and the ice cube was meant to be a dude.
3. Wenlock and Mandeville
The mascot for the 2012 London Olympic Games is sure to be as puzzling as tradition demands. Named Wenlock and Mandeville, these characters pay homage to the sites of the first two London-hosted Olympics. The duo is simply described as 'steel drops with cameras for eyes,' symbolizing London's Industrial Revolution, though they more closely resemble the Terminator’s T-1000.
2. Miga, Quatchi, Sumi, and Mukmuk
As Olympic mascots become increasingly similar to Yo Gabba Gabba! characters, these four (well, three plus a ‘sidekick’) are no different. Created for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, each one represents a mythical creature from Canadian and Northwestern U.S. urban legends (designed by the Canadian-American team Meomi Design). Miga is a sea bear, a hybrid of an orca whale and a kermode bear, who loves surfing and snowboarding in Vancouver. Quatchi is a sasquatch-type figure, equipped with a camera, who enjoys traveling and dreams of becoming a hockey goalie. Sumi is a 'spirit animal' with Thunderbird wings and black bear legs, an avid nature lover. Mukmuk, a marmot and the group's underdeveloped sidekick, gets his name from the Chinuk Wawa word for 'food' due to his big appetite.
1. The ‘Fuwa’
As if having just one (or even two) mascots wasn’t enough, the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, introduced five. Named Beibei, Jingjing, Huanhuan, Yingying, and Nini (in that order), their names form the Chinese phrase 'Beijing huan ying ni,' meaning 'Beijing welcomes you.' Each mascot represents one of the five Olympic rings and also symbolizes the five Feng Shui elements, with a fish, panda, Olympic flame, Tibetan antelope, and swallow embodying their respective characteristics.
