Olympic 101

With the opening ceremony quickly approaching, 8-8-08, here is a fun little mascot lesson to share with the kids. There are so many layers to them it gives some good insight into Chinese culture as a whole. They put meaning and thought into everything!

1. Fish – Bei Bei

Fish in Chinese is pronounced “yu2” which has the same sound as “yu2” meaning surplus or abundance. The headdress of this doll is a “fish in water” which represents a bountiful harvest of medals and money for everyone. The fish is blue to correspond to the blue Olympic ring.

2. Panda – Jing Jing

Jing Jing is a giant panda from the forests of Sichuan in Western China. There are only about 1,000 wild pandas left in the Wolong Nature Reserve in Sichuan. The giant panda symbolizes the harmony of man and nature. The head dress of Jing Jing is a lotus flower
pronounced “he2” which is the same sound as “he2” meaning harmony. The lotus flower has a lot of other meanings as well. Jing Jing the panda is a friendly, optimistic and energetic fellow. Jing Jing stands for the black Olympic ring.

3. Fire - Huan Huan

This is the only mascot that’s not an animal. It’s a “Fire Doll” representing the Olympic flame. The flame on Huan Huan’s head is reproduced from the picture of a flame on a Dun Huang Cave painting. (Dun Huang is a city on the famed in Western China where there are many caves with Buddhist paintings and scriptures.) Huan Huan is an outgoing character adept at many ball games.

4. Tibetan antelope – Ying Ying

The symbol of a “green” Beijing 2008 Olympics. This antelope that roams the Tibetan highlands is being hunted for its wool which is finer, softer and warmer than lamb's wool and cashmere. It's been estimated that only 75,000 to 100,000 Tibetan antelopes are left in existence. The headdress is a motif from the Tibetan and Xinjiang cultures in North Western China. The Tibetan antelope is a an alert and fast creature, and represents the track and field events of the Beijing 2008 Olympics. It also corresponds to the yellow ring.

5. Swallow – Ni Ni

The idea for Ni Ni comes from the traditional Beijing Swallow kites which are frequently flown over Tiananmen square. Swallow, pronounced “yen4” in Chinese also refers to “yen jing” the ancient name for Beijing. Ni Ni will be featured in gymnastics events and represents the Olympic green ring.

So not only did they include the olympic ring colors, China's traditional "Five Fortunes" of good luck, prosperity, longevity, happiness & wealth, but lining up the first words of each name gives "Beijing huan ying ni" or "Beijing Welcomes You". Pretty cool!