Austin360 blogs > TV Blog > Archives > 2008 > August > 08
Friday, August 8, 2008
Mascots of the Beijing Olympics
As we hunker down for tonight’s sure-to-be spectacular Opening Ceremony (6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. on NBC), we should get to know the Beijing mascots. They’re bound to be all over the place for the next 17 days, so let’s check ‘em out.
Like the five Olympic rings from which they draw their color and inspiration, the Fuwa will serve as the official mascots of 2008 Olympic Games, “carrying a message of friendship and peace to children all over the world,” according to the official Chinese description.
Designed to express the playful qualities of five little children who are close friends, the Fuwa also embody the characteristics of four of China’s most popular animals (the fish, the panda, the Tibetan antelope, the swallow) and the Olympic flame.
Each of the Fuwa has a rhyming two-syllable name — a traditional way of expressing affection for children in China. Beibei is the fish, Jingjing is the panda, Huanhuan is the Olympic flame, Yingying is the Tibetan antelope and Nini is the swallow.
When you put their names together — Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni — they say, “Welcome to Beijing.”
The Fuwa also embody both the landscape and aspirations of people from China. In their origins and their headpieces, we see the five elements of nature — the sea, forest, fire, earth and sky — rendered to represent the traditional influences of Chinese folk art.
The Fuwa doesn’t come across as simply as a big old koala from Sydney, but the little quintet is definitely cute.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment Categories: Sports on TV
