List of Paralympic mascots

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.

See also: List of Olympic mascots

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
ParalympicsCityMascotCharacterDesignerSignificancePicture
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 co-operation.[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 and brave girl. 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 islands 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 legend comes the name, after this 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 Paralympics Games' concept of "Transcendence, Equality and Integration."
2010 Winter ParalympicsVancouverSumimythical 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. Part of Canadian legends.
MukmukVancouver Island marmotNot an official mascot, but the designated "sidekick".
2012 Summer ParalympicsLondonMandeville[6]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. Together the two mascots invented the sports of ice sledge hockey and wheelchair curling.
2016 Summer ParalympicsRio de JaneiroTomplant made of all Brazilian plantsLuciana Eguti and Paulo Muppet[8]Inspired by Brazilian flora. Named after the Brazilian musician Tom Jobim decided by popular vote.
2018 Winter ParalympicsPyeongchangBandabiAsiatic black bearMASS C&GThe bear is symbolic of strong will and courage. Its name is also formed from two Korean words: bandal (반달) and bi (비), the former 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 figure 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 lanterns as the prototype. 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 ParalympicsParisWill be unveiled in late 2022TBATBA
2026 Winter ParalympicsMilan-Cortina d'AmpezzoWill be unveiled in late 2024TBATBA
2028 Summer ParalympicsLos AngelesWill be unveiled in late 2026TBATBA

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. BBC Online. Retrieved 19 May 2010.
  7. "2012 London Olympics Mascots launched to the World". 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 Produções, a São Paulo-based design and animation company
  9. "Tokyo 2020 Unveils Mascots". Olympic.org. International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
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