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Olympic Mascots Through the Years

Since 1968, it has been a tradition to have a mascot for each of the Olympic games. Take a peek at our photo gallery of Olympic mascots and then use the comments section to tell us which Olympic mascots you think were the wildest, craziest, weirdest and coolest.

1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France

"Schuss" was the very first unofficial Olympic mascot. The little man on skis appeared at the 1968 Winter Olympic Games in Grenoble, France.

“Schuss” was the very first unofficial Olympic mascot. The little man on skis appeared at the 1968 Winter Olympic Games in Grenoble, France.

1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany

"Waldi" the Dachshund appeared at the 1972 Summer Games in Munich, West Germany. He was the first official Olympic mascot. Dachsunds are a popular dog breed in Bavaria.

“Waldi” the Dachshund appeared at the 1972 Summer Games in Munich, West Germany. He was the first official Olympic mascot. Dachsunds are a popular dog breed in Bavaria.

1976 Winter Games in Innsbruck, Austria

"Schneeman" was the official mascot at the 1976 Winter Games in Innsbruck, Austria.

“Schneeman” was the official mascot at the 1976 Winter Games in Innsbruck, Austria.

1976 Summer Games in Montreal, Canada

"Amik" the beaver was the mascot in the 1976 Summer Games in Montreal, Canada. The beaver is one of the national symbols of Canada.

“Amik” the beaver was the mascot in the 1976 Summer Games in Montreal, Canada. The beaver is one of the national symbols of Canada.

1980 Winter Games in Lake Placid, New York

"Roni" the raccoon was the mascot at the 1980 Winter Games in Lake Placid, N.Y. He replaced Rocky, a real raccoon, who died before the games began.

“Roni” the raccoon was the mascot at the 1980 Winter Games in Lake Placid, N.Y. He replaced Rocky, a real raccoon, who died before the games began.

1980 Summer Games in Moscow, USSR

"Misha" was the mascot for the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow, USSR. The bear was the national symbol of the Soviet Union.

“Misha” was the mascot for the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow, USSR. The bear was the national symbol of the Soviet Union.

1984 Winter Games in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia

"Vučko" the wolf was chosen by readers of major Yugoslav newspapers to be the mascot for the 1984 Winter Games in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia.

“Vučko” the wolf was chosen by readers of major Yugoslav newspapers to be the mascot for the 1984 Winter Games in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia.

1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles, California

"Sam" the eagle was the mascot at the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles, California. He was designed by a Disney artist.

“Sam” the eagle was the mascot at the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles, California. He was designed by a Disney artist.

1988 Winter Games in Calgary, Canada

"Hidy" and "Howdy" were the mascots at the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary, Canada. The bear siblings were the first dual mascots.

“Hidy” and “Howdy” were the mascots at the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary, Canada. The bear siblings were the first dual mascots.

1988 Summer Games in Seoul, South Korea

"Hodori" the tiger was the mascot at the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul, South Korea. Seoul also had a female mascot named "Hosuni."

“Hodori” the tiger was the mascot at the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul, South Korea. Seoul also had a female mascot named “Hosuni.”

1992 Winter Games in Albertville, France

"Magique" the snow imp replaced a mountain goat to become the mascot for the 1992 Winter Games in Albertville, France.

“Magique” the snow imp replaced a mountain goat to become the mascot for the 1992 Winter Games in Albertville, France.

1992 Summer Games in Barcelona, Spain

"Cobi" the surreal sheepdog was the mascot at the 1992 Summer Games in Barcelona, Spain. His design was influenced by the works of Picasso.

“Cobi” the surreal sheepdog was the mascot at the 1992 Summer Games in Barcelona, Spain. His design was influenced by the works of Picasso.

1994 Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway

"Håkon" and "Kristin" are two children from Norwegian folklore dressed in Viking clothes. They were the mascots for the 1994 Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway.

“Håkon” and “Kristin” are two children from Norwegian folklore dressed in Viking clothes. They were the mascots for the 1994 Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway.

1996 Summer Games in Atlanta, Georgia

"Izzy" was the mascot for the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta, Ga. Its name was short for "Whatizit?" because no one seemed to know what it was.

“Izzy” was the mascot for the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta, Ga. Its name was short for “Whatizit?” because no one seemed to know what it was.

1998 Winter Games in Nagano, Japan

"Sukki, Nokki, Lekki and Tsukki" the snow owls were the mascots of the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano, Japan. They replaced Nagano's original mascot which was a weasel.

“Sukki, Nokki, Lekki and Tsukki” the snow owls were the mascots of the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano, Japan. They replaced Nagano’s original mascot which was a weasel.

2000 Summer Games in Sydney, Australia

"Ollie, Syd and Millie" were the mascots for the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, Australia. Ollie is a kookaburra, Syd is a platypus and Millie is an echidna.

“Ollie, Syd and Millie” were the mascots for the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, Australia. Ollie is a kookaburra, Syd is a platypus and Millie is an echidna.

2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah

"Powder, Coal and Copper" were the mascots for the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. The three animals are major characters in Native American legends and each wore a petroglyph charm around its neck.

“Powder, Coal and Copper” were the mascots for the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. The three animals are major characters in Native American legends and each wore a petroglyph charm around its neck.

2004 Summer Games in Athens, Greece

"Phevos and Athena" were the mascots for the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, Greece. They were inspired by ancient Greek dolls and named after Greek gods.

“Phevos and Athena” were the mascots for the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, Greece. They were inspired by ancient Greek dolls and named after Greek gods.

2006 Winter Games in Turin, Italy

"Neve" the snowball and "Gliz" the ice cube were the mascots for the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, Italy. They were chosen from more than 200 proposals.

“Neve” the snowball and “Gliz” the ice cube were the mascots for the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, Italy. They were chosen from more than 200 proposals.

2008 Summer Games in Beijing, China

The five "Fuwa" children were the mascots for the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, China. Together, their five names form a Chinese phrase which means "Beijing welcomes you."

The five “Fuwa” children were the mascots for the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, China. Together, their five names form a Chinese phrase which means “Beijing welcomes you.”

2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada

"Quatchi" the sasquatch and "Miga" the sea bear were the mascots for the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada. "Sumi" the thunderbird was the  mascot for the Paralympic Games. "Mukmuk" the marmot was their sidekick.

“Quatchi” the sasquatch and “Miga” the sea bear were the mascots for the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada. “Sumi” the thunderbird was the mascot for the Paralympic Games. “Mukmuk” the marmot was their sidekick.

2012 Summer Games in London, England

"Wenlock" was the mascot for the 2012 Summer Games in London, England. He represented drops of steel and was named after an English town which hosted the first unofficial modern Olympic Games in 1850.

“Wenlock” was the mascot for the 2012 Summer Games in London, England. He represented drops of steel and was named after an English town which hosted the first unofficial modern Olympic Games in 1850.

2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia

The Leopard, the Hare and the Polar Bear were the mascots for the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. They were selected by the Russian people during a live national TV broadcast by text message voting.

The Leopard, the Hare and the Polar Bear were the mascots for the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. They were selected by the Russian people during a live national TV broadcast by text message voting.

2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Vinicius, a mixture of all Brazilian animals, is the mascot for the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is named for a bossa nova composer. Tom, a magical fusion of all the plants in the Brazilian forests, is the Paralympic Games mascot.

Vinicius, a mixture of all Brazilian animals, is the mascot for the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is named for a bossa nova composer. Tom, a magical fusion of all the plants in the Brazilian forests, is the Paralympic Games mascot.

2018 Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea

Soohorang, a white tiger, is the mascot for the 2018 Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. According to tradition, the white tiger is Korea’s guardian animal and Soohorang represents the protection offered to all the participants of the Olympic games.

2020 Summer Games in Tokyo, Japan

Miraitowa (left) is the official mascot of the 2020 Summer Games (postponed to 2021) in Tokyo, Japan. It is named for the Japanese words for “future” and “eternity,” and it has the ability to teleport. Someity (right) is the mascot for the 2020 Summer Paralympics. It’s named after a type of cherry blossom and can fly.

2022 Winter Games in Beijing, China

Bing Dwen Dwen mascot

Bing Dwen Dwen is the mascots for the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, China. The panda wears a full-body shell of ice which helps the mascot skate, snowboard and ski alongside the Olympic athletes.

50 Comments on Olympic Mascots Through the Years

  1. “hidy” and “howdy” are probaly the best ones
    =)

  2. i like
    miga
    from
    2010

  3. i like the salt lake ones

  4. miga, sumi and quatchi=best olympic mascots yet!2010 is gonna rock!

  5. What about Sumi, Miga, and Quatchi? Let’s not forget them!

  6. specialkaye // August 24, 2008 at 5:39 pm // Reply

    the wienerdog is clearly the best

  7. i liked the fuwa kids from beijing 2008!!!!!!

  8. I would have loved to see the weasel from NAGANO

  9. Cobi is best dressed if ya ask me.

  10. Waldi the dog is pretty cool, but i think having a dog that colorful would be kinda annoying, people gawking at u when u walk ur dog…

  11. The little ski guy isnt real creative if ya ask me.

  12. Izzy is amazing because I like crazy stuff and I’m from Atlanta but I liked Hakkon & Kristin.

  13. i liked hodori

  14. Bottomless Pit // August 16, 2008 at 11:05 am // Reply

    The Fuwa children are cool.

  15. I like izzy the best becuz he is cool lookin and was the mascot for my birth year

  16. Now I like Sam (#08).

  17. Verac Kight // August 10, 2008 at 4:56 pm // Reply

    Go Ice Cube Heads Rule all! (11) By the way did they appear in Blades of Fury? ( part where guy was running around in his iceskates while being chased?)

  18. schneenman is the best

  19. i play world of warcraft // August 9, 2008 at 11:13 pm // Reply

    the fuwa are cool and awsome

  20. alaska wild // August 8, 2008 at 4:12 pm // Reply

    the fuwa are awesome

  21. Deep diver // August 7, 2008 at 1:10 pm // Reply

    IZZY IS DA BOMB

  22. My favorites are the bear, Misha (number 6) and the four owls, Sukki, Nokki, Lekki and Tsukki (number 15). I would have liked to see what the weasel mascot looked like.

  23. I love the five “fuwa”

  24. the five fuwa is the craziest mascot ive ever seen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  25. Pack314camper5000 // August 1, 2008 at 10:57 am // Reply

    I like Misha (#06).

  26. there are mascots for the olympics?

  27. WolfScoutPack314 // July 30, 2008 at 6:48 pm // Reply

    05 is very cool!

  28. The Fuwas. Their awesome!

  29. i really liked colbi. He looks smart and athletic. Sam the Eagle was crazy. Thats a lot of patrioic feelings wrapped into one bald eagle.

  30. 2008 and 1998

  31. Sam is very patriotic!

  32. I love the Fuwa pandas! They are so cute!

  33. 2004’s mastoct should be named “whatzit & strange”

  34. Izzy is by far the strangest and coolest, although I think Neve and Gliz are deffinetly the runner’s up for insanity.

  35. I don’t even have a clue what Schuss is.

  36. star wars kid // July 27, 2008 at 6:43 pm // Reply

    I think izzy is cool!!!

  37. I like ’em all!

  38. quite interesting…………..why so strange-looking though?

  39. the best ones are coal, powder, and copper.i live in utah!

  40. Did you know that the Chinese mascots represent the elements Earth, Water, Fire, Sun and Animals? When you put all their names together it spells the phrase ‘Welcome to Bejing’.

  41. izzy is the wierdest and im not just copying them^

  42. the ones for this year all look the same.

  43. the snow owls are WEIRD!!!!!!!!!

  44. I think its great how we boys can go here and take a look back at some of the past Oylimpic mascots from over the years from the first to the moct reasent year.

  45. I think Sam the Eagle is the BEST

  46. Cool.

  47. i really liked the eagle from the 1984 summer games and I thought this years were the craziest

  48. the funny kid // July 23, 2008 at 7:51 am // Reply

    hahahaha!!! Izzy is the funniest/weirdest!!!!!

  49. Did you know that the chinese mascots are:fire, water, earth, And two other things. These are elements to torture prisonors

  50. Izzy is the wildest,craziest,weirdest,and coolest!

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