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Since the first official mascot made an appearance at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, mascots have become one of the most popular and memorable ambassadors of the Games.
Mascots bring whimsy, humor and light-hearted fun to the Games experience. As ambassadors to the Games, they help provide a warm welcome to athletes and visitors from around the world and they spark excitement, laughter and cheers from children and fans on the field of play.
The mascots help tell the unique story of each Games. They are often a reflection of the history, land and culture of the host region and country. The ideals of Olympism and the Paralympic Movement are brought to life by the mascot through the spirit of friendship, fair play and participation.
The Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Mascots will be an integral part of the Games' image and identity. In addition to attending the Vancouver 2010 festivals and events, the mascots will be seen on everything from pins to toys and apparel, from transportation vehicles to advertising, to the ‘Look of the Games' that is applied to all Vancouver 2010 venues and communities.
The West Coast of Canada is a magical place, with gigantic trees, soaring mountains and a restless ocean. For thousands of years, local Aboriginal people have told stories of fantastical creatures such as sea bears, sasquatches and protective animal spirits that can transform themselves. Now that Canada is preparing to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver, in 2010, some of these creatures want to be part of the fun.
MIGA
Miga is a sea bear that lives in the waters off Vancouver Island with her family pod. Like the sea bears in First Nations legend, Miga and her ‘pod' are orca whales that, on land, can change into bears. In Miga's case, she turns into the rare white Kermode - or spirit bear - that's only found in British Columbia. Snowboarding is her favorite winter sport and her dream is to land a corked 720 in the half-pipe one day.
QUATCHI
Quatchi is a sasquatch who comes from the mysterious forests of Canada. He loves to travel and explore. While he loves all winter sports, he's especially fond of hockey and dreams of becoming a world-famous goalie. The sasquatch is a popular figure described in many West Coast First Nations stories, which are usually told to discipline young children. The sasquatch reminds us of the mystery and wonder that exist in the natural world, igniting our imagination about the possibility of fantastical creatures in the great Canadian wilderness.
SUMI
Sumi is an animal spirit who lives in the mountains of British Columbia. His background, like that of many Canadians, is drawn from many places. He wears the hat of the orca whale, flies with the wings of the mighty thunderbird and runs on the strong furry legs of the black bear. Sumi is a great fan of the Paralympic Games and is determined to learn all the sports, so he can play and race with his animal friends all winter long. Transformation is a common theme in the art and legend of West Coast First Nations. It represents the connection and kinship between the human, animal and spirit world.
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From General Motors Place in Vancouver to the Speed Skating Oval in Richmond, check out some of the key Olympic venues in and around British Columbia.
