Follow the latest news on the 2024 Paris Olympics
When it comes to branding at the Olympic Games, mascots have a role to play. Throughout the decades, their reveal has become a part of the overall ritual – something for viewers to look forward to as Olympics season rolls around.
Introduced in 1968 (although still relatively new in comparison to the Games' long history), mascots are now routinely chosen to represent the host country's identity and, at times, values.
The practice's origins began with the humble Shuss, a zigzagged shape with a red head standing on skis, which was used at the 1968 Grenoble Winter Olympics. The first Summer Olympics mascot was Waldi, a colourful dachshund who represented the 1972 Munich Olympics. Since then, every Olympic Games has had a mascot.
But not every mascot has been viewed as a success, both in its overall appearance and its failure to communicate what its host nation represents. Then there are the incredible designs that have become the stars of that year's Games.
Here, we chart some of the best and worst Olympic mascots, and why they worked or didn’t.
Worst: Vucko, Sarajevo 1984
This one should be self-explanatory, really. Not your typical welcoming character, this shady-looking wolf also appears to be crossing its fingers in a distrustful manner.
Yet, its design for the 1984 Winter Games hosted in Sarajevo comes with good reasoning; the mascot was chosen because the wolf is typically found in the forests of the Dinaric Alps region. Organisers wanted to give their wolf mascot a friendly appearance but didn't quite hit the mark. Instead, it possesses an air of deceit, which isn't a word you'd want to associate with a sports competition.
The selection process involved a competition with more than 800 participants.
Worst: Amik, Montreal 1976
Looking back over the years at mascots, some scream “minimal effort”. While this muted mascot is in danger of falling into that category, there is some reasoning behind it.
Named Amik, which means beaver in the Algonquin language the indigenous language for much of Canada, Montreal's 1976 mascot pays homage to its heritage.
It's a good concept, but unfortunately, the result is a lifeless shape wearing a red sash. Amik was another mascot that originated through an open competition, which hasn't been so popular in recent Games.
Worst: Miraitowa, Tokyo 2020
It’s unfortunate that the country that gave the world anime and manga produced such a, well, boring mascot. The name is a portmanteau of the words mirai, which means future, and towa, which means eternity.
Organisers wanted to opt for a futuristic design that could communicate Japan’s prowess in the realm of technological advancement. Unfortunately, it missed the mark, and the result is a lifeless being with drab colours and uninspiring features.
Best: Olympic Phryge, Paris 2024
The newest mascot is already one of the best there's been. It gets its name from the French Phrygian hats, with the mascot itself being an animated hat with legs. The name and the design were chosen as “symbols of freedom and to represent allegorical figures of the French Republic”, the Paris 2024 website explained.
The Olympic Phryge's power lies in its energetic, animated appearance. It's familiar in its cartoonish appearance, its big eyes ensuring it is cute and captivating, while its red, white and blue colours mirror the French flag. Attendants at this year's games can be seen sporting the Phryge on their hats and shirts, proving its success.
Best: Izzy, Atlanta 1996
Not many mascots perfectly capture the culture and mood of their time as well as Izzy did. Designed to be an abstract embodiment of the five Olympic rings, Izzy fits perfectly within the wacky, colourful, and tech-forward design movement of the late 1990s.
Izzy had a bumpy start with not many convinced it captured the Atlanta Olympics well enough, being so conceptual. Other mascots have tried, and often succeeded, in communicating the culture of the host country, but what Izzy tried to do was convey the feeling of youthful excitement felt in the US during the 1990s.
Izzy represented a new and revolutionary move in mascot design, as it was not an animal, human, or object. Its appearance resembled many of the popular cartoons of the day, too, making it catch the attention of young Olympics fans, the prime audience for merchandise buying.
Best: Misha, Moscow 1980
A strong contender for the cutest of all the mascots, Misha, full name Mikhail Potapych Toptygin, is a cartoon bear designed for the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. There’s everything to like here: Olympic rings belts, a humble stance, and that contagious smile.
Misha, being depicted as a cuddly bear, was a counter to the aggressive and burly Russian bear, a symbol often used to depict the Soviet Union for much of its existence. Bears also often appear in Russian fairytales, becoming inextricably tied to the culture and identity of the nation.
Misha had quite an experience being the mascot for the Soviet-hosted Olympics, as he went to space on a Soyuz rocket in 1978 to promote the games. During the closing ceremony, an enormous Misha bade farewell to the 100,000 spectators before being lifted by balloons and disappearing into the sky.
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Episode list:
Ep1: A recovery like no other- the unevenness of the economic recovery
Ep2: PCR and jobs - the future of work - new trends and challenges
Ep3: The recovery and global trade disruptions - globalisation post-pandemic
Ep4: Inflation- services and goods - debt risks
Ep5: Travel and tourism
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)
Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)
West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)
Sunday
Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)
Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)
Everton v Liverpool (10pm)
Monday
Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)
Five films to watch
Castle in the Sky (1986)
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Only Yesterday (1991)
Pom Poki (1994)
The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)
Profile
Company name: Marefa Digital
Based: Dubai Multi Commodities Centre
Number of employees: seven
Sector: e-learning
Funding stage: Pre-seed funding of Dh1.5m in 2017 and an initial seed round of Dh2m in 2019
Investors: Friends and family
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Jawab Iteiqal
Director: Mohamed Sammy
Starring: Mohamed Ramadan, Ayad Nasaar, Mohamed Adel and Sabry Fawaz
2 stars
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 575bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh554,000
On sale: now
The specs
Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors
Transmission: two-speed
Power: 671hp
Torque: 849Nm
Range: 456km
Price: from Dh437,900
On sale: now
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
