Vancouver 2010 Mascots
Have you seen the mascots for the 2010 Olympics? They were revealed the other day: Sumi, Quatchi and Miga. If you haven’t seen them yet, check them out here. They’re based on characters from aboriginal legends and myths, but they kind of look like Japanese anime. For those of us unfamiliar with the mascots’ folkloric roots, they can be confusing. Sumi’s wearing a hat that appears to have been constructed out of tin foil for communication with aliens. What is Miga? A cross between a penguin, a panda and Alfalfa from the Little Rascals? And as for Quatchi, I get it - he’s a sasquatch (or a samsquanch, as Bubbles from the Trailer Park Boys would say), but his name rhymes with Crotchy - not good.
Still, they’re cute and cuddly-looking, so you know kids will like them, and that leads to lots of “merch” sales, so organizers and retailers will love them. Perhaps they’ll draw attention to aboriginal culture, which is a good thing. So is there a down side? What do you think of the mascots? Have your say in the reply section below. We’ll conduct an informal poll.
MASCOTS is today’s bonus code. You have until December 1st to log into your Jack Nation account and score 100 points - woo hoo!
November 28th, 2007 at 10:23 pm
I think Hamilton’s sense of humour stinks.
November 28th, 2007 at 11:00 pm
Hi Carly, you’re right. The mascots are cute but how many kids actually will watch the Olympics. I think the promoters missed the boat when they should have created something more identifiable to more people. Sure, if you explain who these mascots are representing, then it would make sense. But, that would take a lot of explaining and waste a lot of energy.
I know one thing, I won’t be buying one.
Jim
November 29th, 2007 at 6:56 am
I am glad that the mascots are based on west coast aboriginal characters, but from news reports, there manufactured in China. Why can’t we manufacture them here? Even though I support the Vancouver Olympics, I don’t support the Chinese economy. I’ll buy one or more of the mascot characters when the start manufacturing them in Canada.
November 29th, 2007 at 9:22 am
Hi Carly, I think the mascots are cute - I know my kids would love them because they look like Pokemon characters. I think the Olympics have good intentions with these mascots and they do represent the history and heritage around Vancouver. However, funky characters of the past Olympics have shown it is a difficult sell — if we can’t figure out what they are and if the names are hard to remember. it will be a costly mistake. Keep it simple and easily marketable to be successful —- but for the record, I like them.
Rob
November 30th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
Hey Carly,
I’m sure these critters will make someone alot of money - probably money that will be needed to cover a loss in revenue that seems to strike almost every City that hosts an Olympics. What’s unfortunate is that its so damn expensive to travel in this Country that I could sooner take a first class cruise to Greece than fly West to BC to take in the event.
November 30th, 2007 at 1:26 pm
Why is it that Canada has no originality?
All our TV shows are second rate rip-offs of American shows, and
now it seems even are mascots are a rip-off of Japanese anime.
Cute, I don’t think so.
Pathetic, Yes!