Olympic Games mascots - the horror
The VANOC committee unveiled (unleashed?) the three mascots for the Olympic Games today. "Great care has been taken in developing and designing these Vancouver 2010 characters," said John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. "They will tell a unique story about the Games and they will appeal to children across Canada and around the world. The mascots truly represent the people, geography and spirit of British Columbia and Canada, while personifying the essence of the 2010 Winter Games."
So how is the world supposed to understand Vancouver? Well, let's meet our three eligible bachelors (bachelorettes? bachelorinis? sounds like a drink on Sex and the City), shall we?
Miga is a snowboarding sea bear inspired by the legends of the Pacific Northwest First Nations – tales of orca whales that transform into bears when they arrive on land. Part Spirit Bear, a rare white bear unique to BC, Miga’s outgoing spirit and high energy draw her to action and adventure
Quatchi, a shy and gentle giant, is a sasquatch – a popular figure in local Aboriginal legends of the Pacific West Coast. Quatchi reminds us of the mystery and wonder associated with the great Canadian wilderness. Although Quatchi loves all winter sports, he’s especially fond of hockey and dreams of becoming a world-famous goalie.
Sumi is an animal spirit who wears the hat of the orca whale, flies with the wings of the mighty thunderbird and runs on the furry legs of the black bear. With a name that is derived from the Salish word ”˜sumesh,’ meaning ”˜guardian spirit,’ Sumi is passionate about the environment and is a fan of all Paralympic sports.
As if the Canucks new uniforms weren't bad enough. Congratulations to Vancouver studio Meomi Design for the contract, though. And thanks to Furlong for making it that much easier for me to rent out my house for the month of February 2010, to the hordes of Japanese tourists to whom these mascots (one assumes) are meant to appeal. Thanks JF!
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Comments
Speaking of Taser, have you been to their site lately? Have you seen their Santa banner? Forget a lump of coal. How does 100,000 volts sound to you, punk? I'm going to be having nightmares about this.
Ok--fine...let's have some fun with them. Me, I'm gonna buy one and put it half-in, half-out of my SUV. I'm gonna hang one in effigy in myh window overlooking the Drive. I'm gonna buy another and tie it to my ankle and drag it around to symbolize the burdon of debt the VANOC goofs are going to saddle me with when they cash in their bonus cheques, submit the over-run figures to the government, and blow town on a charter flight to the bahamas. Buy them, folks, reduce your future debt, and hang them in effigy. Better yet: shop-lift them and impale them on the wrought iron fences along 41st Ave. Buy them and give one to a street person.
Let's make up our own mascot: Dumpster Dave and his pal, Meth Annie. Both of them are gaunt, and of first nations origins. They are wearing surplus clothing and both are walking on broken snowshoes. They're both pushing shopping carts full of surplus ski-equipment. That's far more appropo, far more "us", far more realistic.
The Georgia Straight does not condone in any way the shoplifting of official VANOC merchandise from the many hard-working commercial partners spreading the Olympics' capitalist message.
Thank you for your attention in this matter.
Vancouver - Miga
Beijing - Jingjing
Personally I am tired of Killer Whale toys, murals and sculptures along with the constant distortion of "Native" culture to sell something. If it is a native name you are using well why distort it to sound more Japanese. "Sumesh" becomes "Sumi". ????
The Asian market will eat this stuff up. As for me, I was tired of the olympics even before the bid was announced. This city has sold it's soul many times over regarding the Olympics. Something permanent should be done to help the homeless in BC now not spending a fortune for something temporary like a few athletes in 2010.
These mascots will only make idiots become distracted away from real issues this Province faces.
Especially with the UN watching
And is it just me, or does he look vaguely like a Wookiee?
PS. Wookiee is right. Have you been to the site and heard him say his name?