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Winter Olympic mascots through the years


Nepalnews
2022 Jan 29, 12:25,
Robotic mascots perform during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Feb. 7, 2014. Photo: AP

One was decided by a newspaper poll, one by a public vote and some others through a contest. The most recent was chosen from thousands of global entries of illustrations by children. Over the years, the mascots for the Winter Olympics have been abstract forms, animals and humans.

And they have remained in the public memory.

Bing Dwen Dwen, the cheerful panda, is the official mascot for the 2022 Beijing Olympics, but there were plenty before.

Shuss, a man on skis in abstract form, was the first official mascot for a Winter Olympics. He was the mascot for the 1968 Grenoble Games, made in the colors of France: blue, red and white.

Norwegian children Haakon and Kristin, dressed in Viking outfits, were the first mascots in human form. The 1994 Lillehammer mascots are said to have been inspired by historical figures Håkon IV Håkonson, the 13th century king of Norway, and his aunt Princess Kristin.

Schneemandl is said to have been a commercial success and inspired versions of living mascots. Austrian for “Snowman,” Schneemandl was the mascot for the 1976 Innsbruck Games.

Workers browse their phones next to the mascots for the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games near the South Korean booth during the World Winter Sports Expo in Beijing, Sept. 7, 2017.  Photo: AP
Workers browse their phones next to the mascots for the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games near the South Korean booth during the World Winter Sports Expo in Beijing, Sept. 7, 2017. Photo: AP
Supporters of the Austrian ski team make music with Powder one of the Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games mascots as they wait for the start of the weather delayed women's downhill in Snowbasin, Utah on Feb. 11, 2002.  Photo: AP
Supporters of the Austrian ski team make music with Powder one of the Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games mascots as they wait for the start of the weather delayed women's downhill in Snowbasin, Utah on Feb. 11, 2002. Photo: AP
A woman poses for a photo with a statue of the Winter Olympics mascot Bing Dwen Dwen in Beijing, Jan. 12, 2022.  Photo: AP
A woman poses for a photo with a statue of the Winter Olympics mascot Bing Dwen Dwen in Beijing, Jan. 12, 2022. Photo: AP
A child wears one of the Olympic mascots on his face when watching the women's 1,500-meter speedskating race at the Gangneung Oval at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Feb. 12, 2018. Photo: AP
A child wears one of the Olympic mascots on his face when watching the women's 1,500-meter speedskating race at the Gangneung Oval at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Feb. 12, 2018. Photo: AP
Snowlets, the Olympic mascots, walk around the stadium prior to the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics at Minami Nagano Sports Park in Nagano, Japan on Feb. 7, 1998. Photo: AP
Snowlets, the Olympic mascots, walk around the stadium prior to the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics at Minami Nagano Sports Park in Nagano, Japan on Feb. 7, 1998. Photo: AP
Snowmen, mascots of the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, appear in Kitzbühel, Austria, Jan. 28, 1975, during World Cup downhill skiing events. Photo: AP
Snowmen, mascots of the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, appear in Kitzbühel, Austria, Jan. 28, 1975, during World Cup downhill skiing events. Photo: AP
Olympic mascots and a young girl participate in the closing ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Feb. 25, 2018. Photo: AP
Olympic mascots and a young girl participate in the closing ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Feb. 25, 2018. Photo: AP
Children attending the short track skating races in the Palavela Arena cheer with Torino Olympic mascots Neve, left and Gliz at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, Feb. 15, 2006.  Photo: AP
Children attending the short track skating races in the Palavela Arena cheer with Torino Olympic mascots Neve, left and Gliz at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, Feb. 15, 2006. Photo: AP
The wooden mascots of the Winter Olympics watch over one of the main shopping streets on Feb. 8, 1994, in Lillehammer, Norway. Photo: AP
The wooden mascots of the Winter Olympics watch over one of the main shopping streets on Feb. 8, 1994, in Lillehammer, Norway. Photo: AP
Allison McAbe is framed by all kinds of souvenirs in a Calgary, Alberta, shop on Feb. 7, 1988. Photo: AP
Allison McAbe is framed by all kinds of souvenirs in a Calgary, Alberta, shop on Feb. 7, 1988. Photo: AP
A snowman, mascot of the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, greets children in Kitzbuhel, Austria, during the world downhill ski events, January 1975.  Photo: AP
A snowman, mascot of the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, greets children in Kitzbuhel, Austria, during the world downhill ski events, January 1975. Photo: AP
Robotic mascots perform during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Feb. 7, 2014.  Photo: AP
Robotic mascots perform during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Feb. 7, 2014. Photo: AP

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