Ron, I too am not impressed, but it appears to be aimed at children and getting them engaged in sport, which is not a bad thing. They may just grow on us, but at the moment I am unsure. Regards Tom
I like them They are an improvement on the soccer world cup mascot. He looks like Homer Simpson with measles
They look like teeth I wonder how much Grant got paid for thinking them up? I would have kept it traditional with something like Lenny the Limp Lion or Benny the Bloated Bulldog !
I wonder if the '36 Olympics had a mascot? Heinrich the racially pure Hedgehog? Sammy the Swastika? Peter the Panzer...
I saw this on another forum (without a link) and I thought it was a joke. Oh dear. If I remember correctly, the first mascot used at a sporting event was at the 1966 world cup.
What did they get paid to do that -- too much obviously! Maybe they should get off the drugs/booze? regards Robert
Vancouver hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics and these are some actual questions people around the world posted on an International tourism Website. I'm sure the U.K. will get the same treatment. Have fun! Q: I have never seen it warm on Canadian TV, so how do the plants grow? (UK) A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around and watch them die. Q: Will I be able to see Polar Bears in the street? (USA) A: Depends how much you've been drinking. Q: I want to walk from Vancouver to Toronto - can I follow the railroad tracks? (Sweden) A: Sure, it's only four thousand miles, take lots of water. Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in Canada? (Sweden) A: So its true what they say about Swedes. Q: It is imperative that I find the names and addresses of places to contact for a stuffed beaver. (Italy) A: Let's not touch this one. Q: Are there any ATMs (cash machines) in Canada? Can you send me a list of them in Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, and Halifax? (UK) A: We still use Beaver pelts. Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Canada? (USA) A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle-shaped continent south of Europe. Ca-na-da is that big country to your North. Oh, forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Calgary. Come naked. Q: Which direction is north in Canada? (USA) A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions. Q: Can I bring cutlery into Canada? (UK) A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do. Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA) A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is . . . oh, forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Vancouver and in Calgary, straight after the hippo races. Come naked. Q: Do you have perfume in Canada? (Germany) A: No, We don't stink. Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Can you tell me where I can sell it in Canada? (USA) A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather ... try the Hippodrome in Calgary on a Tuesday night! And come naked. Q: Can you tell me the regions in British Columbia where the female population is smaller than the male population? (Italy) A: Yes, gay night clubs. Q: Do you celebrate Thanksgiving in Canada? (USA) A: Only at Thanksgiving. Q: Are there supermarkets in Toronto and is milk available all year round? (Germany) A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of Vegan hunter/gatherers. Milk is illegal. Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Canada, but I forget its name. It's a kind of big horse with horns. (USA) A: It's called a Moose. They are tall and very violent, eating the brains of anyone walking close to them. You can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking. Q: I was in Canada in 1969 on R+R, and I want to contact the girl I dated while I was staying in Surrey, BC. Can you help? (USA) A: Yes, and you will still have to pay her by the hour. Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go? (USA) A: Yes, but you will have to learn it first.
My First reaction was WTF!!! But then I realized that they make sense from an online point of view, and are reasonably cute. However I agree they do look like the aliens from the simpsons and I'm not sure it will work with an actual mascot suit. The weird thing is the steel reference, considering we have no industry left in the country and probably shipped the raw materials from china and had germany forge the girders.
Good article here explaining the design features. London 2012 Olympic mascots: Wenlock and Mandeville's design features explained - Telegraph
Ron, I too am not impressed, but it appears to be aimed at children and getting them engaged in sport, which is not a bad thing. They may just grow on us, but at the moment I am unsure. Regards Tom Tom I admire your optimism but how can these get kids interested in sport. You have to use th ecomputer to get their "story" and see how they develop. Computer and Sport - isn't that part of the reason for obese kids. I sense marketing and big bucks and wonder how much will actually offset the cost of the games. My biggest gripe about these items is in what way do they represent the Olympics, Britain and in particular London? Bring back World Cup Willy! Jim
