Each Paralympic Games have a mascot, usually an animal native to the area or occasionally human figures representing the cultural heritage. Nowadays, most of the merchandise aimed at young people focuses on the mascots, rather than the Paralympic flag or organization logos.

Noggi and Joggi, the mascots of the 1980 Summer Paralympics in Arnhem, The Netherlands are possibly the first Paralympic mascots. But since the Gomdoori in the 1988 Summer Paralympics in Seoul, South Korea, the Paralympic mascots has been associated with its Olympic counterparts.

List of mascots

ParalympicsCityNameSpeciesDesignerSignificancePicture
1980 Summer ParalympicsArnhemNoggi and Joggia pair of squirrelsNecky OprinsenPossibly the first Paralympic mascots when those Games were still called the World Disabled Games.
1984 Summer ParalympicsNew York/Stoke MandevilleDan D. Liona lion who wore running shoes and a jogging outfit.Maryanne McGrath HigginsThe name was chosen following a vote by students at a school for students with severe physical impairments.[1]
1988 Summer ParalympicsSeoulthe "Gomdoori"two Asian black bearsLee Yun SooThe Gomdoori (Korean for "teddy bears") were the Paralympic mascots for Seoul 1988. The bears are tied together to symbolize cooperation.[2]
1992 Winter ParalympicsAlbertvilleAlpya mountain on a mono-skiVincent ThiebautRepresented the summit of the Grande Motte mountain in Tignes. Colors were white, green and blue, to represent nature and the lake.
1992 Summer ParalympicsBarcelonaPetraa stylized armless girlJavier MariscalDepicted as an honest, diplomatic, energetic, impatient and brave girl. As the first Paralympic mascot with disability, the design was based as friend of Mariscal, the Chilean-German artist Lorenza Böttner, like her, she has no arms, which symbolizes that she does not possess any weapons, and represents peace and harmony.
1994 Winter ParalympicsLillehammerSondretroll, with an amputationTor Lindrupsen and Janne SolemThe name was chosen in a competition and derives from the great skiing pioneer Sondre Nordheim.
1996 Summer ParalympicsAtlantaBlazea colourful phoenixTrevor IrvinThe phoenix is the symbol of the city of Atlanta.
1998 Winter ParalympicsNaganoParabbita white rabbit (1 red & 1 green ear)[3]A competition was held among students to find a name for the 1998 Winter Paralympic mascot, and the designation "Parabbit" was chosen from among 3,408 different entries.
2000 Summer ParalympicsSydneyLizziefrill-necked lizardMatthew Hattan and Jozef SzekeresHer frill was shaped like the combined map of Australia and Tasmania
2002 Winter ParalympicsSalt Lake CityOttootterSteve Small, Landor Associates and PublicisThe otter was chosen because of its quickness and liveliness.[4]
2004 Summer ParalympicsAthensProteascolourfully-striped seahorseSpyros GogosNamed after the mythologic sea-god or god of rivers and oceanic bodies of water, Proteus. From the myth also comes their name, as a feature of Proteus comes the adjective protean, with the general meaning of "versatile", "mutable", "capable of assuming many forms". "Protean" has positive connotations of flexibility, versatility and adaptability.
2006 Winter ParalympicsTurinAsterhumanized snowflakePedro AlbuquerqueAster the snowflake represents the uniqueness of each participating athlete.[5]
2008 Summer ParalympicsBeijingFu Niu Lelemulti-coloured cowWu GuanYingRepresents a harmonious co-existence between mankind and nature, it represents athletes with a disability striving to make progress, and it represents the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Summer Games' concept of "Transcendence, Equality and Integration."
2010 Winter ParalympicsVancouverSumia hybrid and mythical creatureMeomi Design
(a group of
Vicki Wong and
Michael Murphy)		With wings of a Thunderbird, legs of an American black bear, and a hat of a killer whale in an artistic style of Haida people, he pays homage to Canadian legends.
MukmukVancouver Island marmotNot an official mascot, but the designated "sidekick".
2012 Summer ParalympicsLondonMandeville[6]one eyed, drop of steel, painted blue by the rainbowIris[7]Named after the birthplace of the Paralympic Games, Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire.
2014 Winter ParalympicsSochiRay of Light and Snowflakea ray of light and a snowflakeNatalia Balashova and Anna ZhilinskyRay of Light came from a different planet that was perpetually hot, while Snowflake hailed from a planet that was perpetually cold.
2016 Summer ParalympicsRio de JaneiroTomAn hybrid plant made of all Brazilian plantsLuciana Eguti and Paulo Muppet[8]Inspired by the diversity of the Brazilian flora. Named after the local musician Tom Jobim decided by popular vote.
2018 Winter ParalympicsPyeongchangBandabiAsiatic black bearMASS C&GThe chosen of the bear is relative to the mascots of the 1988 Summer Paralympics. And the Bear was also symbolic of strongness and courage. Its name is also formed from two Korean words: bandal (반달) and bi (비), meaning "half-moon" to refer to the white crescent on an Asiatic black bear's chest and the latter connoting commemoration to celebrate the games.
2020 Summer ParalympicsTokyoSomeityA robot with pink chequered patterns from official emblem and cherry blossom flowersRyo Taniguchi[9]The Paralympic mascot was chosen from several designs submitted by schoolchildren and illustrators throughout Japan.
2022 Winter ParalympicsBeijingShuey Rhon RhonA Chinese lantern childJiang YufanDesigned with Chinese New Year lanterns as the prototype.As the games were held during the Chinese New Year,the Lanterns represent harvest, celebration, warmth and light. The wishful shape at the top symbolizes auspicious happiness; the continuous pattern of the dove of peace and the Temple of Heaven symbolizes the peaceful friendship and highlights the characteristics of the place where the place is held; the decorative pattern incorporates the traditional Chinese paper-cut art; the snow on the face represents the meaning of "a fall of seasonable snow gives promise of a fruitful year". It also reflects the anthropomorphic design and highlights the mascot's cuteness.
2024 Summer ParalympicsParisThe Paralympic Phryge[10]Phrygian CapJoachim RoncinAn anthropomorphic Phrygian Cap based on the one Marianne wore at the time of the French Revolution. Also the first Paralympic mascot since the 1994 Winter Paralympics with an obvious disability with a prosthetic left leg. Revealed on 14 November 2022
2026 Winter ParalympicsMilan-Cortina d'AmpezzoEnd of 2023TBATBA
2028 Summer ParalympicsLos AngelesWill be unveiled in late 2025 or early 2026TBATBA
2030 Winter ParalympicsTBAWill be unveiled in late 2028TBATBA
2032 Summer ParalympicsBrisbaneWill be unveiled in late 2030TBATBA

See also

References

  1. ↑ "New York 1984 Paralympic Games – Dan D. Lion". International Paralympic Committee.
  2. ↑ "Seoul 1988 Paralympic Games - Gomdoori". International Paralympic Committee.
  3. ↑ Olympic and Soccer Logos and Mascots, aldaver.com
  4. ↑ "Salt Lake City 2002 Paralympic Winter Games – Otto". International Paralympic Committee.
  5. ↑ "Torino 2006 Paralympic Winter Games - Aster". International Paralympic Committee.
  6. ↑ Farquhar, Gordon (19 May 2010). "BBC Sport - London 2012 unveils Games mascots Wenlock & Mandeville". BBC Online. Retrieved 19 May 2010.
  7. ↑ "2012 London Olympics Mascots launched to the World". Archived from the original on June 28, 2010. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Meet the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games mascots and help choose their names". Rio 2016. 23 November 2014. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2016. The mascots were created by Birdo Studios, a São Paulo-based design and animation company
  9. ↑ "Tokyo 2020 Unveils Mascots". Olympic.org. International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  10. ↑ "Avec ses produits dérivés, Paris 2024 veut faire sauter la banque". 29 October 2021.
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