Cobi and Petra

Cobi was the official mascot of the 1992 Summer Olympics[1] and Petra was the official mascot of the 1992 Summer Paralympics, both held in Barcelona, Spain.

Cobi
Mascot of the 1992 Summer Olympics (Barcelona)
CreatorJavier Mariscal
SignificanceCatalan Sheepdog in Cubist style
Petra
Mascot of the 1992 Summer Paralympics (Barcelona)
CreatorJavier Mariscal
SignificanceArmless girl
The Cobi Troupe
GenreSports, Comedy, Musical
Music byXavier Capellas
No. of episodes26
Production
ProducerOlivia Borricon
Production companyBRB Internacional
Release
Original networkTelevisión Española
Original releaseSpring 1992 
Summer 1992

Cobi is a Catalan Sheepdog in Cubist style designed by Javier Mariscal and inspired by the interpretations of Picasso of a masterpiece from Velázquez, Las Meninas. He was unveiled to the public in 1987. His name was derived from the Barcelona Olympic Organising Committee (COOB).

For the Paralympic Games, COOB subsequently requested Mariscal for the creation of a new mascot along the creative lines of Cobi. He created Petra, an armless girl that is supposed to convey positivity, extrovertism, independence, energy and bravery.[2]

Before and during the Games, Cobi and Petra were shown in a variety of advertisements for Olympic and Paralympic sponsors such as Coca-Cola, Brother Industries and Danone. They even had their own television series, The Cobi Troupe which was sold to over 24 broadcasters worldwide. They also appeared on an extensive range of souvenirs, dubbed Cobiana, which proved to be a lucrative source of income. During the Games an inflatable Cobi and Petra was tethered to the Barcelona waterfront.

References

  • "Cobi the pooch: not your average Olympic mascot", Anchorage Daily News, quoted in Robert E Rinehart (1998), Players All: Performances in Contemporary Sport, Indiana University, p137, ISBN 0-253-21223-5
  • Donald McNeill (1999), Urban Change and the European Left, Routledge (UK), p47-8, ISBN 0-415-17062-1
Preceded by
Magique
Olympic mascot
Cobi

Barcelona 1992
Succeeded by
Håkon and Kristin
Preceded by
Gomdoori
Paralympic mascot
Petra

Barcelona 1992
Succeeded by
Sondre
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