Friendlies Say “Beijing Welcomes You”

Surprising many outside observers, the organizers of the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games on November 11 chose a package of five mascots, the Friendlies, to stand as symbols for the Beijing Games.

The Friendlies were unveiled to the public at the Workers' Stadium Gymnasium during an event that also marked the 1,000-day countdown to August 8, 2008, the day the Games will begin.

The Friendlies include: Beibei a fish, Jingjing a panda, Huanhuan the Olympic flame, Yingying a Tibetan antelope, and Nini a swallow. The first character of each of their names, when combined, reads "Beijing Huanying Ni" in Chinese (trans. "Beijing welcomes you.").

The colour of each mascot accords with a colour of the Olympic Rings.

While introducing the Friendlies, Liu Qi, president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), said, "The mascots are a special gift that Beijing is presenting to the world and to the Olympic Movement."

The Friendlies have distinctive Chinese features, Liu said. They represent China's multi-ethnic culture but also aspects of traditional Chinese philosophy that emphasize the need for harmony between human beings and nature.

In Chinese tradition, the number five has special significance. The Friendlies, for instance, represent the five elements of nature-the sea, forests, fire, earth and sky-all stylistically rendered in ways that reflect the deep traditional influences of Chinese folk art and ornamentation.

The number is also related to the "five elements" or "five permutations of being" (wu xing)-metal, wood, water, fire and earth-which many ancient Chinese believed were intimately involved with the origin of the world and to the "five gifts"-riches, long life, peace and quiet, virtue and a life without sickness.

Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), sent a congratulatory letter to BOCOG, expressing his satisfaction with and his deep regard for the Friendlies.

"The Five Friendlies are an incredible little family, chosen carefully by Beijing 2008 to represent all of China in carrying a message of friendship to the children of the world," said Rogge in his letter. He also wrote, "China is lucky to have so many beautiful animals to represent the Olympic spirit. I love them all…. I believe that little group of friends-the fish, the panda, the flame, the antelope and the swallow-will be extremely popular and will help to spread the Olympic message throughout the world."

Sidebar

Beibei

In China's traditional culture and art, fish and water designs are symbols of prosperity and harvest. So Beibei carries the blessing of prosperity. A fish is also a symbol of surplus in Chinese culture, another measure of a good year and a good life.

Jingjing

Jingjing makes children smile, and that's why he brings the blessing of happiness wherever he goes. One can see the panda's joy in the charming naivety of his dancing pose and in the doll's wavy black and white fur. As a national treasure and a protected species, pandas are adored by people everywhere. The lotus designs in Jingjing's headdress, which were inspired by porcelain paintings of the Song Dynasty, (AD 960-1234), symbolize a lush forest and the harmonious relationship between man and nature.

Huanhuan

In the intimate circle of Friendlies, Huanhuan is the big brother. He is a child of fire, symbolizing the Olympic flame and the passion of sport; passion is the blessing he bestows. Huanhuan stands in the centre of the Friendlies as a core embodiment of the Olympic spirit.

Yingying

Like all antelopes, Yingying is fast and agile and can swiftly cover great stretches of land as this fleet-footed creature races across the earth. A symbol of the vastness of China's landscape, the antelope carries the blessing of health and the strength of body that comes from harmony with nature. Yingying's flying pose captures the essence of a species unique to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, one of the first animals to get State-level protection in China. The selection of the Tibetan Antelope reflects Beijing's commitment to a Green Olympics. Yingying's head ornamentation incorporates several decorative styles form the Qinghai-Tibet and Xinjiang cultures and the ethnic design traditions of western China.

Nini

Every spring and summer, young and old alike in Beijing fly beautiful kites that waft on the winds that circulate through the capital. Kites featuring the golden-winged swallow are traditionally some of the most popular. Nini's figure is drawn from this grand tradition of flying designs. Her golden wings symbolize an infinite sky and a wish for the blessing of good-luck wherever she flies. The swallow is pronounced yan in Chinese, and Yanjing is what Beijing was called as an ancient capital city. Among the Friendlies, Nini is as innocent and joyful as a swallow.

 

Where to Buy

As soon as the mascots were unveiled, they made available to the local authorized Olympic retailers and began selling like hot tea on a cold day. Lucky buyers or collectors could find pins, plastic or stuffed dolls featuring the mascots in any of 17 licensed stores in Beijing, including three at the Beijing Capital International Airport, and one in the Wangfujing Department Store and Wangfujing Artistic Mansion. For the convenience of the tourists, one store is located outside the Jingyun Men gate (Gate of Prospering Fortune) at the centre of the Forbidden City near Baohedian. Dial toll-free to 800 810 0010 for further information.

Waldi was the first mascot in the history of the Olympic Games. It was the mascot of the 1972 Olympic Summer Games in Munich, Germany.

"Amik," was the mascot of the 1976 Montreal Olympic Summer Games (Canada).

 

Misha came in 1980 as the mascot of the Moscow Olympic Summer Games.

 

Sam was the mascot of the 1984 Olympic Summer Games in Los Angeles.

 

Hodori was the mascot of the 1988 Olympic Summer Games in Seoul, Korea,

Cobi was the mascot of the 1992 Olympic Summer Games in Barcelona, Spain.

Izzy was the mascot of the 1996 Olympic Summer Games in Atlanta.

Ollie, Syd and Millie were mascots for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Athena and Phevos were the mascots of the 2004 Olympic Summer Games in Athens, Greece.