List of Olympic Mascots 1972 – 2020 | All you need to know

Who wouldn’t like fictionalized characters to come to real life? The Olympics have always been an inspiration to everybody doesn’t matter they are athletes or not. Since the Olympics began, its popularity grew year by year with the abundance of countries taking part in the competition. The viewership also increased but it was felt that to get the whole world involved, everyone should remember the games in some sort of way. Kids and toddlers were the ones who didn’t know anything about the Olympics. So, the idea of official Olympic mascots who will be a fictionalized characters in order to help market the Olympic Games to a younger audience. They will represent the Olympics games which will be an animal or human figure of the city, country in which the Olympics are being held. KreedOn brings a complete list of Olympic mascots from 1972 – 2020.

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List of Olympic Mascots 1972 – 2020

History of Olympic mascots

The first mascot to ever feature on the Olympics games was a cartoon character of some sort. It was not an official mascot rather it acted as a symbol of merchandising of the games at the 1968 Grenoble Winter Olympics. This character was designed by Frenchman Aline Lafargue. The name of the mascot was Schuss. It was designed only a single night before the Olympic games were scheduled to start. The character was depicted as a little man on skis, designed in an abstract form and painted in the colors of France: blue, red, and white.

However, the first official mascot was made public in the 1972 Munich Olympics. It was designed by Graphic Designer Elena Winschermann. It was called Waldi the Dachshund (Weiner Dog) due to its popularity this particular breed was chosen at such an auspicious moment. Waldi’s concept first took shape three years before the games at a Christmas party where the designers were given crayons and were asked to doodle anything that they think will represent the games and country as well. It was mentioned in a YouTube video of an interview of Elena posted by the Olympic Museum YouTube Page.

At first, the mascots were different for the Winter, Summer, and Paralympic Olympic games. The Paralympics’ first mascots were two squirrels in athletic jerseys in Arnhem Paralympics 1980. It was designed by Necky Oprinsen. He was trying to sell his memorabilia and got lucky because of which the Paralympics (at that time it was called Olympics for the disabled) got their first-ever mascot.

The success of these first mascots helped the mascots become an official symbol of the games and their inclusion was a necessity for every edition which took place from 1980. The mascots are designed to depict the atmosphere around the country and are filled with bright colors to give it a look of a festival. 

We’ve seen the maturation of the mascots over the past fifty years. Starting with simple designs created on a whim to full-blown votes, cast by thousands of individuals. From something of an afterthought to images that featured seemingly everywhere at the games.

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A look at the Olympic Mascots through time

1972 Munich Summer Olympic Mascots – Waldi

This colorful dachshund was based on a real dog named Cherie von Birkenhof. This type of dog is very popular in Germany, represented the attributes required for athletes: resistance, tenacity, and agility.

1976 Innsbruck Winter Olympic Mascots – Schneemandl

The first official mascot of the Winter Games means snowman in German. He wore a red hat typically worn in Austria.

1976 Montreal Summer Olympic Mascots – Amik

It is an animal known for its patience and hard work. A beaver was chosen because it is the national symbol of Canada.

1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympic Mascots – Roni

A mascot played different sports. The name was chosen by school children and comes from the word “raccoon” in Iroquoian, the language of the native people of Lake Placid, New York.

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1980 Moscow Summer Olympic Mascots – Misha

Before the Olympics, Misha traveled space too and became very popular.

1984 Saravejo Winter Olympic Mascots – Vucko

The mascot was chosen through a contest. It also embodies courage and symbolizes winter found in the forests of the Dinaric Alps region.

 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympic Mascots – SAM

Designed by the legendary  Bob Moore. The eagle is the national bird of the United States of America.

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1988 Seoul Summer Olympic Mascots – Hodori

1992 Albertville Winter Olympic Mascots – Magique

This mascot was a combination of a star, and a cube.

1992 Barcelona Summer Olympic Mascots – Cobi

Cobi is a mountain dog

1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympic Mascots – Hakon and Kristin

Named after prominent figures in the history of Norway.

1996 Atlanta Summer Olympic Mascots – Izzy

His name was chosen by American children from over 3,000 suggestions from children in 16 different countries.

READ | Saurabh Chaudhary Biography

1998 Nagano Winter Olympic Mascots – Sukki, Nokki, Lekki, and Tsukki 

These four owls are also known as Snow lets. They each come together to represent the four elements: fire, air, earth, and water.

2000 Sydney Summer Olympic Mascots – Syd, Olly, and Millie

Syd is a reference to Sydney, Olly to the Olympics, and Millie to a New Millennium. Syd is a duck-billed platypus, Olly is an echidna, and Millie is a spiny anteater – three typical Australian animals.

2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Mascots – Powder, Coal, and Copper

Powder is a snowshoe hare, Copper is a coyote, and Coal is a black bear featured as mascots.

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2004 Athens Summer Olympic Mascots – Athena and Phevos

These were Two modern children resembling ancient Greek dolls.

2006 Turin Winter Olympic – Neve & Gliz

Snow Gliz means ice. Together, they make the perfect conditions for the Winter Olympics.

2008 Beijing Summer Olympic – the Fuwa

Beibei, Jingjing, Huanhuan, Yingying, Nini : were the 5 characters of this mascot.

2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic – Quatchi and Miga

Quatchi is a sasquatch (they do exist!) and Miga is a sea bear, a mythical animal that is part killer whale and part spirit bear.

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2012 London Summer Olympic – Wenlock

It was in memory after the village of Much Wenlock in Shropshire. It denotes the UK’s start of the Industrial Revolution.

2014 Sochi Winter Olympics – Bely Mishka, Snow Leopard, and Zaika

Bely Mishka (Polar Bear), Snow Leopard (leopard), Zaika (the dore hare)

First mascots decided by popular vote.

2016 Rio Summer Olympics – Vinicius

Inspired by Brazilian fauna. Named after the poet and composer Vinicius de Moraes.

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2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic – Soohorang

A white tiger is a symbol of trust, strength, and protection.

2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics – Miraitowa

A superhero-inspired character that embodies both tradition and innovation.

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