More than 800 excited schoolchildren from eight different elementary schools in the Vancouver area were given the first opportunity Tuesday to view the three mascots for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games during a 35-minute live show at the Bell Performing Arts Centre in Surrey, British Columbia.
Traditional First Nations creatures inspired the mascots. They include Miga, a mythical First Nations sea bear that is part orca killer whale and part Kermode spirit bear. Miga was based on the legends of the Pacific Northwest First Nations of orca whales that transform into bears when they arrive on land, but is also a snowboarder.
Quatchi is a shy and gentle Sasquatch with a long brown beard and blue earmuffs meant to conjure the mystery and wonder associated with Canada’s wilderness, who is especially fond of hockey and dreams of becoming a world famous goalie.
The third mascot, Sumi, is an animal guardian 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.
The mascots have a sidekick named Mukmuk, a rare Vancouver Island marmot. While he’s not officially a mascot Mukmuk enjoys surprising his friends by popping up on occasion. Mukmuk’s name comes from the Squamish word for food (muckamuck) because he loves to eat.
The mascots were designed by Meomi Design based in Vancouver.
They will appear in advertisements for the Games, official publications and websites, and on stuffed toys and other trinkets as souvenirs for Olympic fans.
According to the Vancouver 2010 website the mascots will also serve to “bring humour and light-hearted fun to the Games’ experience and help provide a warm welcome to athletes and visitors from around the world”.
“Miga, Quatchi and Sumi are ambassadors for Canada and we are thrilled to introduce them to Canadians and people from around the world,” said John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). “Great care has been taken in developing and designing these Vancouver 2010 characters. 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.”
