PyeongChang Olympics mascots unveiled
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Kim Yuna, honorary ambassador of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, center, introduces “Soohorang,” a white tiger themed mascot for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, left, and “Bandabi,” the Asiatic black bear-themed one for the Paralympic Winter Games, right, at a ceremony at PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, Monday. / Yonhap
By Baek Byung-yeul
PYEONGCHANG ― The mascots for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics and the Paralympic Winter Games have been officially unveiled, Monday.
The PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (POCOG) held a presentation ceremony at its office in the resort town of PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, attended by local residents. The 2010 Olympic figure-skating champion Kim Yuna also graced the ceremony as an honorary ambassador for the 2018 Winter Games.
The POCOG already unveiled Soohorang, a white tiger mascot for the 2018 Winter Olympics, and Bandabi, the Asiatic black bear mascot one for the Paralympic Winter Games last month. The ceremony was the first public appearance of the full-sized mascots.
The two figures were chosen as they resemble animals appearing in Korea’s foundation mythology and are closely associated with Korean culture and folklore. The tiger’s name Soohorang is a combination of the Korean words “Sooho,” which means protection and “rang,” which comes from the middle symbol of “horangi” meaning tiger. The Asiatic black bear is the symbol animal of Gangwon Province. “Banda” comes from “bandal” meaning half-moon, indicating the white crescent on the chest of the Asiatic black bear, and “bi” has the meaning of celebrating the Games.
With these mascots, the POCOG will increase marketing activities at commercial areas such as movie theaters and major thoroughfares in Korea. Overseas, they will install a promotion center at the upcoming Rio Olympics.
“This promotion campaign has its meaning that a boom up project for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics using mascots would now begin from the host city of PyeongChang,” POCOG President Lee Hee-beom said.
“From now on, we’ll embark on overseas promotions including a promotion center at the upcoming Rio Olympics, as well as promotions in Korea.”
The ceremony also featured a “mini Olympic” event, allowing 150 elementary school students to experience winter sports. With guidance from current and former winter sports athletes, the children had a chance to learn winter sports such as short track speed skating, rifle shooting for the biathlon and a virtual reality experience for ski jumping.