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    Humor

    Top 10 Worst Olympic Mascots

    Tanya BennettBy Tanya BennettFebruary 20, 2010Updated:August 24, 201785 Comments7 Mins Read
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    This list was first published in 2008. Seems a good time to revisit it.

    A good Mascot is a symbol of the spirit of the Olympics in general; while, at the same time, teaching the world something about the country where the event is taking place. I also feel that mascots should exude a positive and focused energy and enthusiasm for the games as well as the city, country and culture they represent.

    10. MukMuk (2010, Vancouver Winter Games)

    This character is supposed to be a Vancouver Island Marmot but it would be more accurate to describe him as an underdog. He is the ‘designated sidekick’ of the three official mascots for the Winter Games: Quatchi, Miga and Sumi. It’s like the real mascots are saying, “Okay MukMuk you can hang out with us but you’re not really one of us.” And pathetic little MukMuk says, “Gee, thanks guys! Woo hoo!”.

    While the official mascots are out in the real world promoting the Olympics (okay, they are really just humans in costume) MukMuk the wannabe just exists on the internet and is not even important enough to include on the souvenir merchandise. Poor little guy.

    You can read more about little MukMuk’s plight.

    9. Hosuni (1988, Seoul Summer Games)

    Who? Exactly. The Seoul Games actually had two mascots, Hodori and Hosuni, but for some reason Hodori was way more popular. When you look at a picture of them, it’s hard to see why since they look EXACTLY THE SAME. Being the unpopular one is bad enough, but how about being completely erased from everyone’s memory? If you look up information about mascots on the Official Website of the Beijing Olympic Games, Hosuni isn’t even mentioned. It’s like she never even existed.

    8. Cobi (1992, Barcelona Summer Games)

    I have to admit this character is really, really cute. But in what stretch of the imagination does a dog wearing a business suit symbolize the Olympics? Have they added ‘commuting’ to the Olympic events? Or possibly ‘handshaking’ or ‘powerpoint presenting’? I think not.

    7. Hidy & Howdy (1988, Calgary Winter Games)

    Okay we get it,  Calgary’s nickname is Cowtown and they have a big rodeo every year (the Calgary Stampede) so the cowboy/cowgirl theme makes sense. But ‘Hidy’ and ‘Howdy’? Why not just call them ‘Hick’ and ‘Hillbilly’? To make things worse, they were touted as ‘inseparable brother and sister polar bears’. Kind of cute or just creepy in that whole Angelina Jolie and her brother kind of way?

    6. Waldi (1972, Munich Summer Games)

    When I picture dogs competing in the various Olympic Summer Events (and I do this all the time, of course) I see a greyhound jumping hurdles, a Labrador retriever swimming and a whippet running around a track. But I never, ever, picture a short-legged, long-haired dachshund named Waldi. And, for goodness sake – it’s the Summer Olympics, Waldi, you can take off the sweater!

    Waldi would have appeared closer to the number one position but he is the very first Olympic mascot ever so I’ve decided to ‘throw Munich a bone’.


    5. Rocky (1980, Lake Placid Winter Games)

    The mascot for the Lake Placid Winter Games was going to be a real live raccoon named Rocky but unfortunately he passed away before the games even began. A dead raccoon is not very inspiring or cute. In fact, it’s right up there with roadkill. I looked all over the web and could not find out how Rocky died. The most obvious suspect would be Roni, the cartoon raccoon who replaced him, but apparently his neighbor Wiley Coyote backed up his alibi. Rest in peace Rocky.

    4. Athena and Phevos (2004, Athens Summer Games)

    Otherwise known as Two Penises Wearing Sweaters or Two **** Wearing Dickies…

    3. Olly, Syd and Millie (2000, Sydney Summer Games)

    These forgettable mascots were completely upstaged by the unofficial mascot of the Sydney Summer Games, Fatso the Fat-Arsed Wombat. Fatso even appeared on the winners’ podium with several gold medalists. Meanwhile, poor Olly, Syd and Millie were being referred to as “Syd, Ollie and Dickhead” by the popular Australian comic duo Roy and HG. The Olympic Committee tried to discourage Fatso’s popularity at first but he became so popular that he ended up on a commemorative stamp and there is a statue of him outside the Sydney Olympic stadium.

    2. Izzy (1996, Atlanta Summer Games)

    Arguably the least successful mascot of all and evidently controlled by the most indecisive people in the world. First of all, not even the creators seem to know what he is supposed to be: isn’t Izzy short for ‘Whatizit’ or ‘Whatizhee’? And no one seemed to be able to settle on what he should look like either because his nose, size and eyes changed over time.
    An article on the BBC news website quotes Simpsons creator Matt Groenig as describing Izzy as “a bad marriage of the Pillsbury doughboy and the ugliest California Raisin”. It then goes on to say that the US press described “as anything from a ‘blue slug’ to a ‘sperm in sneakers’. Source: BBC News

    As a parting shot, perhaps I still have Athena and Phevos on my mind, but I have to agree Izzy does kind of look like a big blue sperm?

    1. The Fuwa (2008, Beijing)

    I am rating the Fuwa the worst mascot because, while others have been unpopular, confusing or silly, these bad luck dolls of Beijing are becoming downright ominous. Fuwa translates to the ‘good-luck dolls’ but you be the judge. First, the famous Chinese artist, Han Meilin, had two heart attacks while he was designing them. And now, each of the five characters that make up the Fuwa have been linked to events which have led to the superstitious term ‘the Curse of the Fuwa’. Nini (swallow/kite/locust figure) is linked to the Weifang T195 (“kite city”) train accident in April 2008 and the locust infestation in Inner Mongolia in June 2008. Yingying (the Tibetan antelope) is an obvious choice for association with the Tibetan unrest. Huanhuan, representing the Olympic flame, is being linked to the torch relay protests. Also, the Sichuan area, which suffered a catastrophic earthquake on May 12, 2008 is well known for its pandas and the fourth mascot, Jing Jing, is a panda character. The fifth and final Fuwa mascot is Beibeig, a fish who is representing the element water in the group. He is being associated to the floods in South China as well as an algal bloom in the Olympic sailing course.

    According to Wikipedia, some people are now calling the characters “Wuwa” (witch dolls) instead of Fuwa and “online criticism of the dolls has frequently been censored”.

    Personally, I think they are cute but I wonder how souvenir sales are doing? Are people reluctant to bring the bad mojo of these Fuwa/Wuwa into their homes?

    Favorite Unofficial Mascots

    Fatso the Fat-Arsed Wombat is probably the most famous unofficial mascot but he’s not the first. That distinction goes to Schuss the unofficial mascot of the 1968 Grenoble Olympic games. The tradition continues with Itchy the Bedbug, Creepy the Cockroach and Chewy the Rat, unofficial mascots for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics who appeared at the “Poverty Olympics” in 2008 to raise awareness for the poor and homeless.

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    85 Comments

    1. stan on August 25, 2013 12:21 pm

      MukMuk was my all time favorite. Not only very cute but helped raise awareness of the real life endangered Vancouver Island Marmot.

    2. idk on August 13, 2012 5:12 am

      really. everyone has different opinions. what’s the point of all this debate?

    3. Eva on August 9, 2012 8:56 pm

      I don’t see any problem of these mascots. The guy who gives the list has a very strange taste.

    4. Mr. Jones on April 21, 2012 6:30 pm

      Don’t forget that Izzy had a few other things other mascots didn’t get. I was a kid here in Georgia when the olympics came, and I remember all this crap because it was forced on you here.

      1.) A Nintendo and Genesis game

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oub2TPUfxQw

      2.) A PC Game

      http://www.gamespot.com/izzys-adventure/

      3.) A TV Special

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izzy_%28mascot%29#Izzy.27s_Quest_for_Olympic_Gold

    5. Steph on November 9, 2011 5:48 pm

      Great post! Love hearing about the best mascots. Some people hate them, but I always enjoy what they bring to the game. Pretty athletic what they do out there too! I found a fun ranking of all the mascots of the NBA and decided to search for more on them. That’s how I found yours.

      Thanks for the post! Loved it.

    6. Flu-Bird on September 9, 2011 7:56 pm

      Olly,sid & millie three native animals of austalia Olly isa KOOKABURA a KINGFISHER and their calls have been used in jungle movies SID a PLATIPUS their duck bill and they come from eggs like olly dose and milly ECINA also comes from eggs which is what they also have in common

    7. Stephen on July 13, 2011 6:05 am

      Hey, love your list and number 2 Izzy haha poor Izzy just looks a little sad. I enjoyed your list and see a few people above took it a little too serious.

      • Tanya Bennett on July 13, 2011 12:05 pm

        thank you 🙂

    8. matasy on June 10, 2011 10:51 am

      i think waldi and mukmuk are rather cute :p

    9. daniel on May 27, 2011 1:57 pm

      I’ve been to 11 Olympics (so far), and while I have opinions about all of the mascots, I would have to say that seldom has there been anything created more rediculous than the original Izzy. When he was introduced in Barcelona as an animated image superimposed over the stadium during closing cerimonies, his legs were simply attachments, he was propelled by jets of stars coming out of the end of his tail. He was powered by super farts. He then proceded rapidly downhill as he was adjusted and tweeked into the massive sperm cell we’ve known and nausiated over. The only things worse than izzy, was his family. He even had an izzified horse… WOW.

      BTW, Muk Muk was stageringly popular in Vancouver. Anything that had Muk Muk on it was sold out within hours of being released.

      • Tanya Bennett on June 2, 2011 5:06 pm

        Thanks for the extra information about Izzy – I’d love to see a picture of his horse and his family – that’s awesome.

        • daniel on June 3, 2011 12:39 am

          http://www.bonanza.com/booths/Murph9/items/Atlanta_1996_Izzy_Family_Olympic_Pin

          http://cgi.ebay.com/1996-ATLANTA-OLYMPICS-IZZY-FAMILY-HAPPY-NEW-YEAR-/110587465644

          • Tanya Bennett on June 3, 2011 12:15 pm

            Whoa – you weren’t kidding – I wish I had known about his family when I wrote this list – they give me so much more material…

          • daniel on June 3, 2011 4:17 pm

            There was a PVC toy with the horse and Izzy that I found when I googled izzy family olympic. If you go to Images, you will see it… Scary…

    10. Tom on February 23, 2011 4:28 am

      Wow, this Blackbird bloke really has an issue with China. I particularly like how you regurgitated the same material multiple times throughout the comments section.

    11. AtlantaGuy on November 4, 2010 12:04 pm

      Izzy (#2) was short for “Whatisit?” And your recognition has nothing to do with Athena and Phevos. Within days of Izzy’s revelation, everyone here in Atlanta was referring to him as “the happy sperm”.

      • The Blackbird on January 14, 2011 12:31 pm

        Thanks for the info. I always thought Izzy was named as it was because its creators thought the first thing people would say on seeing it would be “Is he a [insert guess]?” 😉

      • Me on January 23, 2011 5:28 pm

        Also, as a fellow resident of Georgia, might I add that Izzy’s name was chosen as part of a contest to name him. I was never aware that Izzy was supposed to stand for anything, but I don’t doubt that what you say is true. Not sure what the other popular choices were other than I do remember one of them being ‘Kirby’, which stood out for me because I’m a gamer. I’m not sure if there was some kind of list you could vote on, I only heard the results on the news by chance. Oddly enough, there doesn’t seem to be any information out there about this naming contest (I’m looking now as I write this out of curiosity), maybe some other Ga. resident can vouch for this or offer more information.

        • Tanya Bennett on January 23, 2011 10:25 pm

          Maybe the winner of the contest doesn’t want anyone to know 🙂 Interesting background on Izzy- thank you.

    12. K on May 19, 2010 8:02 pm

      I don't know about you but this page has no author. It can be someone who stay home all day playing video games or someone dropped out high school. Whoever it is! It is not reliable source. Just for the recorder, according to the Peter Hartlaub from msnbc, "Fuwa" is rated the forth best Olympic mascots. So I don't know why on this webpage "Fuwa" rated the worst of all time? My theory is that whoever wrote this must be hating 2008 Beijing Olympic is the BEST of Olympic by far!

      • Tanya Bennett on May 19, 2010 8:34 pm

        I'm interrupting a very ferocious game of Pong to point out that I happen to be an extremely "reliable source" when it comes to my own opinion, which is what this list is based on.

      • The Blackbird on May 19, 2010 9:15 pm

        Beijing Olympics were the best by far at displacing people from their homes to make way for Olympic-related development. 1.5 million Chinese kicked out of their homes for a two week party makes Beijing the very best at disregarding human rights for the sake of appearances.

        Until the greedy corporate sponsors and their lapdog government partners start respecting human rights, civil liberties and equality for all peoples, no Olympic Games can be considered "the best." Until the IOC and host cities/countries start doing this, all Olympic Games – including Beijing – are the worst type of sports/entertainment spectacle on the planet.

        But I shouldn't be too hard on Beijing. After all, it will be smothered by the encroaching desert in just a few years. Everyone there will have to add another accessory (besides their operating room masks) to their wardrobe: goggles to keep the blowing sand out of their eyes. Or maybe Beijing could displace everyone, shut down the city and move all of the ugliness that is Communist China somewhere else.

        And the Fuwa suck! Ugly little mascots to represent an ugly event.

      • K on May 20, 2010 2:52 am

        Please tell me WHAT DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS, CIVIL LIBERTIES, and EQUALITY FOR ALL PEOPLE??? Moreover, "[t]he worst type of sports/entertainment spectacle on the planet." WHAT? You have no idea what you're talking about!!! I'm pretty sure on this huge planet must have worse than type of sports/entertainment spectacle. What are you talking about? Seriously, China is the fastest growing economy country right now and by far it is faster than United States. Soon China will overtake Japan second largest economy in the World. Addition, China is more than half of U.S. GDP(PPP). Now can you honesty tell me one more time that China is going to SHUT DOWN and displace someone else? Man, why am I so work up with these idiotic people anyway. It is wasting my precious time to people that have no idea what they are talking about. . . . . . . .

        • The Blackbird on May 20, 2010 6:29 am

          Hi K! 🙂

          Well, you have turned this into a personal attack, rather than sticking to the issue you originally raised (Beijing 2008 is the Best Olympics ever). You seem quite angry and defensive, using all of that profanity. Not a very flattering manner in which to exercise the freedom of expression Chinese nationals do not enjoy in their country. I will remain on topic in replying.

          China may have the world's fastest growing economy, but that doesn't have anything to do with the Olympics. To that point, though, I have to say that I would far rater live in a small and peaceful country with a slowed economy and where human and civil rights are respected, that in China where many people were shot and lkilled by security forces because they did not vacate their residences to make way for Olympic development. Pardon me for suggesting it be so, but a country where safety and security of the person hangs by so loose a thread – and both China and the United States come to mind – is unappealing.

          Also, I did not write that China will shut down. I wrote that Beijing will soon be swallowed up by the desert. Why build brand new stadiums and other sports facilities in a city that won't be able to use them in a decade? The poetic justice here is that the desert will make Beijing an unlivable place regardless of how much power you have. It won't matter if you're a homeless peasant or if you're in the highest levels of government, nature is the great equalizer and will displace all of Beijing's residents soon enough, except scientists interested in researching the effects of desertification on once-thriving urban centres.

          The 2008 World Champion marathon runner refused to race in Beijing 2008 because of the air quality. I know it's hard for you to accept that Beijing will soon be uninhabitable, especially given the $40 billion spent on the Games, but that's no reason to deflect the Olympic discussion to one about world GDP and fastest growing economies. Please stay on topic, which is actually the top 10 worst Olympic mascots.

          Finally, if you're going to make public statements on the Internet about how great the Beijing mascots, Olympics and so on are, be prepared for a reply from others who take an opposing view. If you can't do that, then any attempt I might make to inform you what I know about civil liberties, human rights and equality would be futile. You must first learn the basics. Freedom of expression implies tolerance for the opinions of others. When you start swearing and lashing out in an impolite manner, it lends the appearance you do not respect another person's right to free expression.

          You obviously like Beijing, the Olympics and the Fuwa a lot. That's great!

          I don't … and that's great too!

          Keep having fun.

          • Tanya Bennett on May 20, 2010 7:53 am

            Thanks Blackbird! I took some time from writing my rather silly lists to look into Beijing's dust threat and found this article http://www.gluckman.com/ChinaDesert.html for anyone out there interested in more information.

          • The Blackbird on May 20, 2010 8:39 am

            It's a pleasure, Tanya. Did you see the new London 2012 mascots, unveiled today? Me thinks you'll have to revise this list!

            http://www.reuters.com/news/video/story?videoId=8…

      • TopTenz Master on May 20, 2010 5:24 am

        The authors are listed at the bottom of each article. Sometimes in the text, sometimes underneath the related list links. Tanya, who wrote this article, is one of the best writers and top researchers we use. She is also an editor for this site.

        • Tanya Bennett on May 20, 2010 7:49 am

          I think when K said "this page has no author" he meant that I not a very good "author," not that my name wasn't listed… thanks for pointing me out, though, hopefully I don't have to go into hiding now! 😉

          I can't believe how seriously people take these mascots! Have you seen the new one-eyed monsters that are the mascots for London? I'm giving them an honorary spot on this list…

          • Tanya Bennett on May 20, 2010 7:54 am

            "I not a very good author" Ha ha ha ha ha ha. 🙂

        • The Blackbird on May 20, 2010 8:35 am

          Tanya's awesome! Go TopTenz!

    13. The Blackbird on March 6, 2010 2:08 pm

      Hey gang. In case anyone cares, I was interviewed by Art Threat about my mascot art:

      http://artthreat.net/2010/03/olympic-mascot-mayhe…

      • Tanya on March 13, 2010 8:49 am

        Just read it! Interesting backstory on your great pics-

        • The Blackbird on March 13, 2010 11:07 am

          Thanks, Tanya. I've read a few of your other Top Tenz lists and you have a great sense of humour, so it means a lot that you enjoy my work.

    14. The Blackbird on March 3, 2010 5:18 pm

      Yes, what Tanya said.

    15. The Blackbird on March 3, 2010 5:17 pm

      Actually, Kaylee, you need to do a little research. For the longest time, Mukmuk was relegated to the two-dimensional online world. There were no plans to create a Mukmuk doll or use the character on souvenirs and such after the official mascots were created. The information on this is out there, you just have to do a little fact-checking.

    16. Kaylee on March 3, 2010 4:38 pm

      If you want to be taken seriously as a journalist, you need to fact-check your information first.

      Muk-Muk is featured on TONS of Vancouver 2010 Olympic merchandise.

      • Tanya Bennett on March 3, 2010 4:53 pm

        Ouch! Yes, he's on all sort of official merchandise now, but it didn't look like he was going to be when I wrote this article in 2008. Here is a link to another article written around the same time as me: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/features/2010/… More recently, there was a protest during the Vancouver Olympics to have Muk Muk recognized as an official mascot. Thanks for taking the time to read my list –

    17. The Blackbird on March 2, 2010 6:43 am

      OMG … Kathy's comment is too funny! You're taking the idea of the importance of Olympic mascots way too far. I don't know anyone who considers them serious symbolic representations of their respective Host Nations. They're marketing tools, an advertising gimmicks and huge money makers for the local organizing committee. And that's all they'll remain unless local artists can subvert them to show visitors from outside the Host City what it really means to be a resident of it.

      That's my goal in spoofing the mascots, to reveal a more realistic interpretation of their place in the cultural life of Vancouver. Using them to bring unpleasant social, economic and cultural truths to the surface is far more valuable a service than to worship them as national icons. Ultimately, they are consumer products and those who purchase them can do what ever they want with them.

      Besides, picking on them can be sooooooo much fun!!! Ha ha ha ha ha!!!!

      http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackbird_hollow/438…

    18. Kathy on March 2, 2010 12:25 am

      I personally find that the Beijing mascots are the cutest and rather inspiring (I'm pretty sure they have back stories and whatnot). I have the entire plush set of them.

      How can you be so superstitious? Luck is not up to a bunch of Olympic Mascots to control. How is that even possible? The designer probably just had heart problems.

      You also said "According to Wikipedia" that just made you instantly fail. No respectable internet user would use Wikipedia of all the websites to back up their argument. No matter how true the statement may be.

      All these mascots represent a country and their history, culture and their beliefs. Picking on them isn't the best thing to do.

      • Tanya Bennett on March 2, 2010 4:28 pm

        Wikipedia may not always be the most accurate source for facts but it is a great compilation of popular opinion, which is helpful when writing a list like this (that is how I used it in the list above). I'm not superstitious, just like I don't really think the Athens mascots are actually two sweater-wearing penises. Unless Wikipedia says they are, then it must be true 😉

    19. Hanna on February 23, 2010 6:07 pm

      The female bear on #7 has a moustache…am I the only one who noticed that?

    20. The Blackbird on January 26, 2010 8:07 pm

      Now she's saying she is sure she saw your work somewhere else, i.e., she doubts – publicly – that you are the original author of the list. No class.

      • Tanya Bennett on January 27, 2010 12:51 pm

        I think she's only saying that because the site moderator asked her to include sources from now on. If she saw it anywhere else, I'd like to know where because they took it from me, too. I think almost anyone reading my lists can tell they are all written by the same author (me). I'm not surprised she's defensive, I looked at a few of her other posts and they all look like they are "borrowed" from other sites. 'nuff said, let's get back to mocking those mascots!

    21. The Blackbird on January 26, 2010 5:59 pm

      Someone has infringed on your copyright, Tanya … Link Removed.

      • Tanya Bennett on January 26, 2010 6:12 pm

        Whoa, thanks for letting me know, Mr. Blackbird! Stole my writing word for word, how lame… particularly since we have an 'embed' feature so people can post lists on their sites anyways!

        • The Blackbird on January 26, 2010 7:11 pm

          No problem. She didn't credit you, no link back to your page, stole the collection of images you compiled, and based on her replies to commenters appears quite content to pass your work off as her own.

          I'd send her a cease and desist notice, publicly. That's the courteous first step in the process.

          • TopTenz Master on January 26, 2010 7:21 pm

            Thanks, we have sent an email to them to comply. And even worse they are putting link ads on the content.

          • The Blackbird on January 26, 2010 8:04 pm

            The irony is, the bulletin board is supposed to be about beauty. Nothing beautiful about theft.

    22. jesse on January 8, 2010 7:24 am

      hahaha i love Cobi so cute!!!

    23. Jess on December 26, 2009 5:48 pm

      Number 3 is one of the best! Australian prouds themselves with those mascots

    24. The Blackbird on October 27, 2009 11:25 pm

      Have you got a before and after shot of Millie? I'm thinking of entering medicine with the eventual goal of opening a breast augmentation clinic so my interest is strictly professional.

    25. Pogla The Grate on October 27, 2009 10:31 pm

      In the lead up to the 2000 Olympics, there was a recall on the Millie Dolls. Apparently her breasts were too big, and could cause eye injury… I don't really need say any more, do I?

    26. The Blackbird on October 10, 2009 1:28 pm

      Sumi says, "Sue me," to the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association and the BCCLA answered, "Sure!"

      http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackbird_hollow/set…

    27. The Blackbird on September 30, 2009 1:51 am

      News Flash! Quatchi listed as missing in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside!

      http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackbird_hollow/395…

    28. Evan on September 11, 2009 12:52 am

      Hey…!!! That's their own OCOG trademark. For me, Both Moscow 1980 Olympic Mascot, Misha Bear & Fuwa, 2008 Summer Olympic Mascot are the CUTE Mascot (yet include Sumi, Miga, Quatchi, & Mukmuk for 2010 Winter Olympics). if London OCOG Releases the Mascot, point it then edit this….

    29. The Blackbird on July 30, 2009 11:27 am

      Extra! Extra! Miga spotted on thin ice with members of the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit …

      http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackbird_hollow/set…

    30. The Blackbird on July 11, 2009 12:15 pm

      News flash! 2010 Mascots at Vancouver City Hall!

      http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackbird_hollow/370…

    31. Flu-Bird on May 13, 2009 9:52 pm

      Nothing wrong with OLLY DID and MILLIE at least they look like real animals then those wacky looking creatures from those BEJING olympics

    32. The Blackbird on February 27, 2009 11:52 am

      The other list was probably written by some IOC hack who wants to steal your thunder.

      Have you seen my photos of the 2nd Annual Poverty Olympics held in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside earlier this month? Itchy, Chewy and Creepy made another appearance!

      http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackbird_hollow/327…

    33. Tanya on February 27, 2009 11:09 am

      @Josh I can only speak for this list but I will have to go check out the other one: anyone who can come up with reasons why those mascots are among the 10 Best is truly imaginative!

    34. Josh on February 27, 2009 8:34 am

      Why are Ollie/Syd/Millie, Cobi, Howdy/Hidy, Izzy, and Waldi on both the 10 Best and 10 Worst lists? Whoever wrote these articles has about as much imagination as the fools who came up with that horrid little Izzy.

    35. Tanya on February 24, 2009 7:25 pm

      @The Blackbird – Love the new picture, poor MukMuk, he's like the "Mr. Bill" of Olympic mascots… http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackbird_hollow/330…

    36. The Blackbird on February 24, 2009 11:09 am

      More Vancouver 2010 Mascot Madness!

      http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackbird_hollow/330…

    37. cecilia on February 23, 2009 10:04 am

      i heard the beijing mascots mean welcome to biejing wen you put them together

      bei-bei

      jing-jing

      huan-huan

      ying-ying

      ni-ni

      bei-jing-huan-ying-ni= beijing huan ying ni

    38. Tanya on February 17, 2009 3:25 pm

      @Liz – Sorry for the error, the Nini/Weifang info came from two sources (The UK Telegraph and The Wall Street Journal) but I see you are correct that is not the location of the accident. Regardless, the Nini still qualify due to the locust infestation. And I think you made a spelling error: the long term for 'super-rad' is super-radical, but I thank you anyways 😉

    39. Liz on February 3, 2009 3:02 pm

      "Nini (swallow/kite/locust figure) is linked to the Weifang T195 (“kite city”) train accident in April 2008 and the locust infestation in Inner Mongolia in June 2008."

      The train accident was not in the kite city Weifang. Make it right, this is not superstitious, rather super-radiculous.

    40. laura on December 4, 2008 9:32 am

      You forgot the Torino mascot – an ice cube named Glis.

    41. The Blackbird on November 12, 2008 12:09 am

      I recently had the pleasure of meeting Quatchi, one of the three official mascots of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. I hope you enjoy this set of photos I took when we met.

      http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackbird_hollow/set…

    42. Lunatique on November 10, 2008 2:19 pm

      Hi. I'll have to be a defender of Cobi's… he's actually wearing the traditional suit for opening events on the Olympics. In fact, if the Spanish wanted their mascot to look like a businessman or a lawyer, it wouldn't be a dog… a pig or a snake maybe.

      Allow to say Cobi's so awesome, he'd even had his own TV cartoon back in the 90's (might have been part of many of today's twenty-ers pre-adolescence).

      Regards, everybody!

      • Tanya on December 9, 2009 1:22 pm

        I didn't realize that about Cobi's costume and have to admit it gives him a bit more credibility. And I hear his suit has got him into some pretty sweet poker games with some other dogs…

      • Andy on March 1, 2011 8:52 pm

        In fact, the original Cobi mascot does not have any clothes on (this doesn’t mean he’s naked, remember he’s a dog). On his belly, there’s the logo of Barcelona’92. Besides, several toy/souvenir figures were produced -like the one on the pic, which is a judge version of Cobi. There are others in which he’s dressed up as a boxer, etc.
        I have a figure with the original Cobi (no clothes and the logo) with suction cups.
        Cobi has proven to be some of the best-recalled Olympic mascots!!!

        Oh! I’d include the 3 mascots of Sochi 2014….none has any relationship with the other 2.

      • FD on December 12, 2011 2:34 am

        COBI is always referred as one of the most successful mascots ever. The International Olympic Committee have considered Cobi as the most profitable mascot.

        As other readers said, COBI, a Catalan sheepdog in Cubist style, worn multiple attires representing the many sides of the Olympic movement.

        Having said that, I would apreciate a correction as COBI has been misunderstood in this Worst Olympic Mascot list.

        • Tanya Bennett on December 12, 2011 11:32 am

          Who would you recommend I replace him with? I wrote this list 3 years ago so I’m not really willing to rewrite parts of it now, but I’m just curious –

          • FD on December 12, 2011 9:51 pm

            I know what you mean. I would not replace it, just strikethrough, as I think COBI deserves the clarification 😉 But of course this is only my point of view.

            http://www.mariscal.com/en/projects/cobi/

            He´s a cute mascot indeed.

          • Tanya Bennett on December 13, 2011 12:15 pm

            Thank you for that link FD – just scrolled through all of the different pictures of him and I have to admit he is pretty cute! 🙂

    43. The Blackbird on October 30, 2008 5:54 am

      That is a wonderful justification. Makes me feel so happy and so much better about China. If everyone is cruel, then cruelty must be okay! Yippie! Let's all party in this violent and cruel world and celebrate with sports and games and who cares who gets hurt or killed in the process. Cruelty can be fun!!! And the mascots are proof! Yay! Yippie! Three cheers for cruelty! Let's not try to change a thing. Let's allow the world to become more cruel because that way the world will be even more fun and we will have even more mascots to celebrate with. What a beautiful world!

      You are so right, Baki. I like the world you live in, the one without hope and love, where cruelty is king. It's so much fun!

      • Eva on August 9, 2012 9:04 pm

        The most peaceful place is USA because it can invade the other countries as it want. God bless Iraq, Yugoslavia and Afghan T.T

    44. Baki on October 28, 2008 12:54 am

      Beijing Mascots are wicked. I really like it. It gives alot of welcoming message for everyone. I think they are the best Mascots so far designed in Olympics. Just because Chinese Government is doing what is best for its future doesn't mean we need to put them into spotlight like this!.

      I mean we think Chinese Government is cruel, which they are but then again who is not cruel. Look at Israel, built a really big Prison for Palastanians. And yet the world is so quite about it as if these people don't exist.

      Hidden agendas are on all governments plate but what leads to wrongfulness, mischief is by doing wrong at the beginning.

      Sorry i went way off the topic in this area but i had to raise it!

    45. The Blackbird on October 7, 2008 7:55 am

      Hi Anonymous. Beijing 2008 rules? I guess you aren't one of the 1.5 million Chinese displaced from their homes in the lead up to the Games, or a Tibetan monk, or a Falun Gong believer. Beijing 2008 rules? No way! Beijing 2008 sucks the big one! Ha ha ha!!!

      I'm going to buy a stuffed Quatchi, one of the Vancouver 2010 mascots. He has a dream of one day being a hockey goalie. This is part of his official bio. Then I'll set up Quatchi in the hockey net in the gymnasium where I work and a long line of those hard red plastic ball hockey balls and work on my slapshot.

      Oh, and another thing Anonymous, ha ha ha!!!

    46. cammy on September 11, 2008 5:36 pm

      I'll have to agree that the Fuwa Mascots are creepy, and are not really popular among the Chinese ppl here. They say that theyre the devils..and bad luck dolls

    47. Shelby T Mitchell on September 6, 2008 1:15 am

      Best mascots:Cobi, Hodori, and Mischa of 1980 Moscow

      Worst:Hands down, barnone, Izzy!

    48. Anonymous on September 3, 2008 8:14 pm

      Don't judge the art of others feeling your some kind of a big shot… These mascots represent their country and their pride, maybe earns money but the 5 dolls represent 5 great elements of reality.. As far of Olympics is concern, Beijing 2008 rules.

    49. The Blackbird on August 26, 2008 10:18 am

      That's right, the mascots are a source of revenue for the Olympics. Why else would Beijing have 5 mascots and Vancouver 3? The Olympics are a for-profit outfit. I'm the photographer of the shot you've linked to the Poverty Olympics Mascots in Vancouver.

      In response to the comment left by Unknow, forget about the past and look to the future? One world, one nightmare!

    50. Unknow on August 24, 2008 8:14 pm

      Fuwa is by far the best Mascot yet! It not only represent the balance of human and nature(four types of animal near extinction), but also demonstrating the important message send by the Chinese to the world "Beijing welcomes you." Beibei,Jingjing,Yingying,Huanhuan,Nini connecting together forming a heart-warming phrase . According to the opinion of above , saying the superstitious of china . It self is showing superstitious by pointing out pass event . If we all goes around picking bones from a egg , there are many other event to point out. Involving NATURAL DIASTER which happen in different places around the world. We should always look into the future and forget about the past. Look at the success the Fuwa brought for 2008 Olympic . Fantastic opening great ending , just look at the amount of medals everyone achieve

    51. TopTenz Master on August 15, 2008 8:20 am

      MukMuk appears to have potential. I honestly like the cut of his gib better than the others. Although, what is the real purpose of the Olympic mascots? Don't we want the Olympic games to be regal and a prestigious event? I don't know how the mascots contribute to this. Seems like they are there to make money in sales to children rather than promote the Olympic Spirit of the host city.

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