It appears the Canadian press is reacting to negative comments by the British press during the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games, and, according to the Guardian, has decided to return the favour.
And the object of the Canadian press’s criticism? The London 2012 mascots, Wenlock and Mandeville.
The Guardian quotes the Calgary Herald commenting that “London’s creepy one-eyed Olympic mascots scare us. Especially the one with the blue stain on its crotch”. Canada’s National Post wrote “who’s laughing now London?” and called them “walking alien penis creatures”, while the Toronto Sun described “terrifying penis monsters” and the Montreal Gazette said, “if you’ve yet to see photos of the mascot couple….keep the young children away”.
But, according to the Guardian there’s more. The Globe and Mail quoted Canada’s Industry Minister Tony Clement’s tweet – “Saw the pic of the UK mascots. See what happens where you create a coalition?”, and the Vancouver Sun is quoted by the Guardian “World united online against London’s Olympic mascots….disturbing resemblance to partly blinded Teletubbies”, adding “it’s safe to say (Vancouver’s) 2010 mascot Quatchi could kick their alien butts”.
In Canada’s capital Ottawa, the Ottawa Citizen simply listed abusive online comments about the mascots under the headline “London Olympic Games mascots are met with derision”.
