Chinese Mandarin - Beijing unveils mascots for 2008 Games

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Beijing unveils mascots for 2008 Games

www.chinanews.cn 2005-11-12 15:34:06

(Source: Xinhuanet)

BEIJING, Nov. 11 - To the surprise of all, Beijing unveiled a set of five
doll mascots for the 2008 Olympic Games Friday evening, exactly 1,000
days before the event's opening ceremony.
The long-anticipated mascots, which embody the natural characteristics of
four of China's popular animals -- the Fish, the Panda, the Tibetan
Antelope, the Swallow -- and the Olympic Flame, were presented at a
televised grand ceremony inside the Workers' Gymnasium.
It is the first time that more than three images share Summer Olympic
mascot duty. The 2000 Sydney Games featured three animal mascots --Olly
the Kookaburra, Syd the Platypus and Millie the Spiny Anteater.
"We decided to produce five mascots instead of one, because we think no
single figure can embody China's profound and diversified culture," said
Han Meilin, chief of the mascto designers' group.
Each of the Beijing Olympic mascots has a rhyming two-syllable name -- a
traditional way of expressing affection for children in China. Beibei is
the Fish, Jingjing is the Panda, Huanhuan is theOlympic Flame, Yingying
is the Tibetan antelope and Nini is the Swallow.
When their names are put together -- Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni --they say
"Welcome to Beijing".
The five elements of nature -- the sea, forest, fire, earth and sky --
can be found in their origins and headpieces, all stylistically rendered
in ways that represent the deep traditional influences of Chinese folk
art and ornamentation.
Each of the mascots also symbolizes a different blessing --prosperity,
happiness, passion, health and good luck.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge sent a
letter of congratulation to the BOCOG.
"China is lucky to have so many beautiful animals to represent the
Olympic spirit," said Rogge in the letter.
"I love them all. And I am delighted that they will carry traditional
Chinese blessings all over the world.
"I believe that this little group of friends -- the carp, the panda, the
flame, the antelope and the swallow -- will be extremely popular and will
help to spread Olympic messages throughout the world," he added.

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