Posted on 07/24/2008 1:10:38 AM PDT by SolidWood
You're not the only one unhappy about the Olympic mascots, collectively known as the Fuwa.
If the Beijing Olympics' five cuddly mascots go down in history as a dud, their creator wants no part of the blame. After China's Olympics organizers gave him the assignment, folk artist Han Meilin initially sketched out five children representing the traditional Chinese elements of fire, wood, water, gold and earth. Then the bureaucrats got involved. "There had to be a panda, even though you'd think the public would have had enough of them," says the 72-year-old artist.
Alas, mankind will never get enough of the panda, but the problem with the Fuwa is much broader than anyone of them. Each of the five mascots is more annoying than the next. And why are there five of them anyway? Is this a statement about the diminutive role of individualism in the people's republic? As an official web site helpfully explains,
Each of [the] Fuwa 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 the Olympic Flame, Yingying is the Tibetan Antelope and Nini is the Swallow. ... Like the Five Olympic Rings from which they draw their color and inspiration, Fuwa will serve as the Official Mascots of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, carrying a message of friendship and peace -- and good wishes from China -- to children all over the world.
Don't talk about peace and friendship with Joe Bryant, a blogger at Footballguys.com. He asks, "Why do the Olympic mascots have to look like some mutant Pokemon / Telletubbie thing? What's wrong with a bull dog or a cougar or a sweat shop worker for a mascot?" That's the spirit!
That would be FUN!
He’s rehearsing for the opening ceremonies. ;-)
:^D
There are Olympic mascots?
Who knew?
the 2004 mascotts were Fibo and Athina (Fibo prounounced Fee-voh)
They were two artistic looking children. Adults made fun of them but the kids just loved them.
The mascotts are just marketing merchandising tools. Something to sell.
Given recent news stories, it would seem the new mascot should be Seringy the seringe.
About as annoying as all the other Olympic mascots.
Voltron meets Hello Kitty.
LOL!
Coug... ping to #4
That is brilliant.
Just dont let my youngest see that. He is so hooked on Lego Star Wars and Lego Indiana Jones games that he would want to play Lego Tiananmen Square.
That is very disturbing.
They’re probably not too annoying if your two years old.
I dunno. This guy sure gave it a good shot.
That’s the first thing I thought of when I saw them.
Don’t worry about it, I live near salt Lake City and I’ve already forgotten the mascots from those games. I remember something about copper and that they were embarrassingly stupid.
LOL!!!
I predict we will see your worst fear: Dozens (perhaps hundreds) of adults dancing in life-size panda costumes :)
ROTFL! It's somehow simultaneously my greatest fear and my secret wish.
I bet at least one of them is going to shoot fireworks out of it's paws, too.
LOL!
How about life-size dancing pandas ... with fireworks shooting out of their paws ... ON ROLLER-BLADES. Now that's an opening ceremony! :)
ROTFL!!! It sure is! I'd imagine they are also doing some kind of Busby Berkeley dance routine, too. Like this, but with pandas and fireworks and roller blades.
You know, it probably is a good thing we live so far apart. Because I don’t think we would get anything done if we lived closer. LOL We’d just sit around think up crazy things like this all the time.
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