Mascots of Important Sports Events

What is the mascot?

• A mascot is any person, animal, or an object deemed to bring luck, or something which is used to depict a group with a familiar public character, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or a brand name. 
• Mascots are personalities usually designed based on an animal which is different from all. A Mascot has always a story with the moral to say. 
• Mascots are used to portray fictional, symbolic spokespeople for consumer products like a dog is used in advertising, marketing and as a logo of the syndicate bank to indicate faithfulness. 
• Mascots are used to promote in banners, advertisement, events and portals in any character like in traditional form and in modern forms like sketch, picture and animation. 
• Mascots can be used to show a coveted quality like a dog as a faithful animal, to express a custom of regional, national or cultural resources, product and industry. 

What are sports mascots?

• The trend of mascots in sports are for a long time but it is recently get noticed in sports competitions like Olympic Games, FIFA world cup, commonwealth games and many more. 
• Mascots can be described in any character, creature or a thing believed to bring a good fortune. 
• In sports, mascots have been used for a long time to encourage the sports and spread awareness in a simple way with a specific goal. 

Mascots of major sports

2022 Olympics

Name of the Mascot: Bing Dwen Dwen

Meaning

• Bing Dwen Dwen is a Giant panda with a suit of ice, a heart of gold and a love of all things winter sports. The panda is ready to share the true spirit of the Olympics with the whole world.

2018 Asian Games 

Name of the mascot: Bhin Bhin, Atung, and Kaka

Meaning

• Bhin Bhin is a bird of paradise that represents strategy and the east of Indonesia. Bhin Bhin's clothing of choice is a vest with Asmat pattern details from Papua, a province of Indonesia.
• Atung is a Bawean deer that represents speed and the central area of Indonesia. Atung's clothing of choice is a saroong with Jakarta's batik's tumpal pattern.
• Kaka is a single-horned rhinoceros that represents strength and the west of Indonesia. Kaka's clothing of choice is Palembang's traditional attire with a flower pattern.

2018 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championship

Name of the mascot: Hungarian grey bull and cow

Meaning: 

The Hungarian Grey bull and cow are a symbol of Hungary since the 9th century and just like our boxers, they symbolize fighting ability and endurance. They will keep an eye on all bouts of the new generation and entertain the home crowd in Budapest.

14th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) 2018

Name of the mascot: Jelly

Meaning

Take jellyfish as a creative element, it represents vitality, balance, low profile, seriousness.

Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup 2018

Name of the mascot: Olly

Meaning

‘Olly’ represents the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles that travel thousands of miles in the ocean and arrive in millions every year on Odisha’s Rushikulya and Gahirmatha beaches for their annual nesting.

United World Wrestling (UWW) 2018 

Name of the mascot: Champlion

Meaning

“Champlion”, the wrestling lion. Champlion – a wordplay compiled from the words “champion” and “lion”.

Invictus Games Sydney 2018

Name of the Mascot: Cobber

Meaning: 

This plucky little Blue Heeler is fully-grown, but he still has a boyish face and a playful personality. Cobber is an Assistance Dog and his job is to make the competitors, families, friends and spectators feel welcome at the Invictus Games Sydney 2018.

The Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games

Name of the Mascot: #Pandi

Meaning

• The mascot represents a jaguar, the biggest cat in the Americas
• #Pandi aims to inspire young people and raise awareness of endangered species.
• Its hashtag is a sign that it will be very visible online.

UCI Road World Championships 2018 

Name of the Mascot: HELMI

Meaning: 

HELMI has been a cult TV figure in Austria for more than 35 years and has taught generations of children how to have fun and stay safe out on the road.

European Championships Glasgow 2018 

Name of the Mascot: Bonnie

Meaning: 

Bonnie is a young, female harbour seal. She is gregarious, has bags of energy, confidence and is very agile. She is adventurous which coupled with her natural curiosity allows her to give just about anything a go!

IAAF World Indoor Championships Birmingham 2018

Name of the Mascot: Ruby

Meaning:

She takes her name from the gemstone, to reflect her sparkling personality and as a nod to the city’s world-famous jewellery quarter.

The FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018

Name of the Mascot: Horses named Star and Huck.

Meaning:

Star and Huck were adopted in 2016 by Mark and Katherine Bellissimo, managing partners of Tryon Equestrian Partners, after being rescued by the Peeps Foundation, an organization dedicated to rescuing miniature horses and giving them a forever home. The duo has been inseparable ever since adoption, and have been regular fan favourites at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), where the WEG is being held this September since they began attending events there in 2017.

Central American and Caribbean Games 2018

Name of the Mascot: Baqui

Meaning:

A monkey species from South America that is in danger of extinction. The decision to name a Cotton-Top Tamarin as the main character of the games is an invitation to show and promote the battle for the protection and preservation of the species.

Olympic summer games (2016)

Name of the mascot: Vinicius for the Olympics games and Tom for the Paralympics games.

Meaning:

• Rio Olympic mascots are of bright yellow colour and in form of cartoon creature such as a cat that portrays a combination of all animals of Brazil. 
• Vinicius is named after the poet and composer Vinicius de Moraes and Tom is named after Tom Jobim who is a musician. 

Olympic Winter Games

Name of the mascot (2018 going to held): Soohorang for winter Olympics and Bandabi for winter Paralympics 

Meaning:

• Soohorang is a white tiger which is intimately related to the religion and expresses faith, confidence, energy and security. 
• Bandabi is an Asiatic black bear from the Korean peninsula and expresses strong intention and spirit. 

FIFA world cup (2018 going to held)

Name of the mascot: Zabivaka

Meaning:

• Zabivaka is named after the wolf and it is one who counts or scores in the Russian language. The wolf is made of Russian national colour that is red, blue and white with orange sports glasses. 

Commonwealth Games

Name of the mascot: Borobi

Meaning:

• Borboi is koala term which is a local Yugambeh language and to tribute the elders and their effort to revive local language in use and it also spread the message of Aboriginal story and culture.” 

AIBA Youth Women's World Boxing Championship (2017)

Name of the Mascot: Guppy (A female version of Assam's one-horned rhino)
Launched on: November 6th, 2017
Launched at: Guwahati, Assam
Launched by: Chief Minister of Assam Shri Sarbananda Sonowal and President of Boxing Federation of India Shri Ajay Singh.

Meaning:

• It shows the toughness, courage, energy and will and confidence which show the qualities of the Indian women.
• It also shows the traits of Indian women, who are powerful, self-sufficient, Aim driven and flexible.

Theme: 'Make Some Noise'
Anthem: The anthem is composed by two personalities that are the Composer Shaan and famous singer Sunidhi Chauhan.

FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017

Name of the Mascot: Kheleo (A clouded Leopard)
Launched on: 10th February 2017
Launched at: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi
Launched by: The Minister of youth affairs and sports Shri Vijay Goel and chairman of the local organising committee.

Meaning:

• This clouded leopard is a wild cat from the Himalayan.
• A mascot represents the blooming, lively, energetic, spirited and passionate image of the whole country.

Asian Athletics Championship mascot

Name of the mascot: Olive Ridley sea turtle
Launched on: 7th May 2017
Launched at: Kalinga Stadium
Launched by: Chief Minister of Odisha Shri Naveen Patnaik

Meaning: 

• The olive ridley sea turtle moves thousands of miles in the ocean. It means a mascot shows slow but steady progress to make and achieve the goal.