20 Years of Adorable (and Questionable) Olympics Mascots

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Beijing, 2022

Meet Bing Dwen Dwen!The adorable mascotof the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing is a panda, the national animal of China. In Mandarin, his name in part means “ice” (Bing) and “robust and lively” (Dwen), according to Olympics.com.

Bing Dwen Dwen also sports a heart on his left palm, a sign of hospitality for those in attendance in Beijing. He was chosen from more than 5,800 design submissions, the creation of Cao Xue.

02of 12Tokyo, 2020/2021Miraitowa.Sam Barnes/Sportsfile via GettyMore than 2,000 residents of Japan submitted ideas for the Summer Olympics mascot; primary school student got to vote for the winning design,according to Olympics.com.Blue and white Miraitowa, the creation of Ryo Taniguchi, was meant to represent both the future and the past, with a name meaning future (mirai) and eternity (towa).

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Tokyo, 2020/2021

Miraitowa.Sam Barnes/Sportsfile via Getty

More than 2,000 residents of Japan submitted ideas for the Summer Olympics mascot; primary school student got to vote for the winning design,according to Olympics.com.

Blue and white Miraitowa, the creation of Ryo Taniguchi, was meant to represent both the future and the past, with a name meaning future (mirai) and eternity (towa).

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PyeongChang, 2018

Soohorang.

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Rio, 2016

Vinicius.Friso Gentsch/Getty Images

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Sochi, 2014

The Hare, the Polar Bear and the Leopard.Joe Scarnici/NBC/NBC Newswire/NBCUniversal/Getty

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London, 2012

Wenlock.John Phillips/Getty Images

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Vancouver, 2010

Quatchi and Miga.MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images

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Beijing, 2008

Beibei, Jingjing, Huanhuan, Yingying, Nini.SAMANTHA SIN/AFP/Getty Image

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Turin, 2006

Neve and Gliz.Luca Bruno/AP/Shutterstock

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Athens, 2004

Athena and Phevos.Scott Halleran/Getty Images

Brother and sister Phevos and Athena were based on two gods of Olympus (Phevos is another word for Apollo). They were made to look like traditional terracotta dolls, daidala, from the 7th Century BC and dressed in orange for the sun and blue for the water,Olympics.com reports.

11of 12Salt Lake City, 2002Powder, Coal and Copper.Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesSchoolchildren suggested a list of names that ultimately ended with Powder, Coal and Copper, nods to Utah’s resources. Powder, a hare, Copper, a coyote, and Coal, a bear, were meant to also embody the Olympic motto of “Citius, Altius, Fortius” (faster, higher, stronger), saysOlympics.com,thanks to their own physical abilities of speed, strength and endurance. Additionally, they wore petroglyphs of themselves, a nod to their roots in Native cultures and storytelling. Landor and Publicis created the crew.

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Salt Lake City, 2002

Powder, Coal and Copper.Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Schoolchildren suggested a list of names that ultimately ended with Powder, Coal and Copper, nods to Utah’s resources. Powder, a hare, Copper, a coyote, and Coal, a bear, were meant to also embody the Olympic motto of “Citius, Altius, Fortius” (faster, higher, stronger), saysOlympics.com,thanks to their own physical abilities of speed, strength and endurance. Additionally, they wore petroglyphs of themselves, a nod to their roots in Native cultures and storytelling. Landor and Publicis created the crew.

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Sydney, 2000

Millie, Syd, and Olly.WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images

source: people.com