"Schuss",
a little man on skis, is actually the very first unofficial
Olympic mascot. Schuss appeared at the 1968 Olympic
Winter Games in Grenoble. He was featured on a pin
and on small toys but not as a plush mascot.
1976
Innsbruck Olympic Winter Games
Created
by the Austrian Committee, this snowman symbolizes
the "Games of Simplicity".
Roni,
1980 Lake Placid Olympic Winter Games
"Roni"
is a raccoon. The design on his face recalls the goggles
and hats worn by most athletes in winter sports.
Vuchko,
1984 Sarajevo Olympic Winter Games
"Vuchko",
the tough and courageous wolf. This mascot helped to
change the traditionally frightening and bloodthirsty
image of the wolf, which is present in the region.
This wolf has both a serious and a cheerful side but
is happy rather than serious. It symbolizes the desire
of human beings to make friends with animals, to make
a wolf into a Vuchko.
Howdy
and Hidy, 1988 Calgary Olympic Winter Games
"Howdy
and Hidy" are an inseparable brother and sister
pair of polar bears. The names express a feeling of
brotherhood and welcome. "Hidy" is an extension
of "hi" while "Howdy" is the American
western slang for "hello". These two mascots
thus embody the warmth of Canadian hospitality.
Magique,
1992 Albertville Olympic Winter Games
Half
man-half star, this figure was based on the original
concept of a person, which had not occurred since the
Innsbruck Games of 1976. Named "Magique",
the mascot of the Albertville Games plays with the
concept of dream and imagination through its star-like
shape. It was to be the emotional counterpart to the
technical nature of the Games.
Haakon
and Kristin, 1994 Lillehammer Olympic Winter Games
"Haakon
and Kristin" are two small Norwegian children
in traditional costumes.
Sukki,
Nokki, Lekki and Tsukki, 1998 Nagano Olympic Winter
Games
The
Snowlets: Sukki, Nokki, Lekki and Tsukki are four owls;
a bird who has long represented
"the wisdom of the woods" in many countries.
The word "Snowlets" comprises "snow"
and "let’s". The Games take place every four
years which is why there are four owls. The names were
chosen from 47.484 suggestions sent in by the public.
Powder,
Copper and Coal, 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Winter
Games
The
Salt Lake 2002 mascots aim to reflect the Olympic motto "Citius,
Altius Fortius"
(Faster, Higher, Stronger). With this in mind, three
animals, a snowshoe hare, a coyote and a black bear,
were chosen to symbolize the motto. "Powder" snowshoe
hare (Faster): at one time, the sun was burning up the
earth. The hare ran swiftly to the top of the mountain.
Shooting her arrow at the sun, she dropped it lower in
the sky and cooled the land.
"Copper" coyote (Higher): when the world turned
dark and froze, the coyote climbed the highest mountain
top and stole the flame from the fire people. He brought
warmth back to the Earth. "Coal" American black
bear (Stronger): long ago, brave hunters left their villages
to track the mighty bear but the bear was too strong
and outlasted the hunters. Today, sons of the hunters
continue the chase in the night sky.
Neve
and Gliz, 2006 Torino Olympic Winter Games
"Neve":
she is a gentle, kind and elegant snowball;
"Gliz": he is a lively, playful ice cube. They
are the two symbolic characters of the XX Olympic Winter
Games. They complement each other and personify the very
essence of winter sports. The mascots were born from
the pencil of Pedro Albuquerque, a 38-year old Portuguese
designer who won the international competition launched
by the Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games in
Turin (TOROC) on 25 March 2003. He was inspired by his
passion for water and the incredible shapes this element
takes on when it is transformed into snow or ice; by
his research into the Italian spirit and the places hosting
the Olympic Games; by the Olympic values; and by the
technical characteristics of the various sporting disciplines
of the Games. "Neve" and
"Gliz" reflect the spirit of the Italian Olympic
event: passion, enthusiasm, culture, elegance, and love
of the environment and of sport. They are the symbol
of a young generation that is full of life and energy.