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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.
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By Darlene
August 24, 2008 12:32 PM | Link to this
I have tried countless times to find a site that has Olympic Souveniers. The 5 animals advertised at the onset of the games are what I'm interested in.......especially the green one named "nini". My grand-daughter's nickname is "NINI" and being that I wasn't in China, I would not be able to purchase one. Do you know of where I could go on-line to get one? I would be ever so grateful!
By DaleRye
August 9, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this
Please Note: The NBC Website gives times for coverage (at least if you are watching the local channels on satellite) in Eastern time, not "All times CT" as claimed. I wasted two hours of recording today and missed the only Olympic event I wanted to see. I can't watch the online coverage because my computer (less than 2 years old) isn't supported by the NBC viewer software. I won't be watching much of the Olympics and, at this point, I rather hope NBC takes the financial bath they richly deserve.