White tiger is 2018 PyeongChang Olympics mascot

Olympic multi-medalist Kim Yu-na holds the mascots for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (POCOG) unveiled a white tiger named “Soohorang,” left, and an Asiatic black bear named “Bandabi,” Thursday. / Courtesy of POCOG

By Baek Byung-yeul

The white tiger, a mythological creature in Korean folklore, will be the official mascot for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games, the organizing committee announced, Thursday.

The PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (POCOG) announced a white tiger named “Soohorang” will be the symbol for Korea’s first Winter Olympics and an Asiatic black bear named “Bandabi” will be a mascot for the Paralympic Winter Games.

The POCOG said the mascots were “finalized after POCOG’s presentation of the Olympic mascot to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board held today in Lausanne and the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) prior approval of the Paralympic mascot.”

POCOG explained the two mascots resemble animals appearing in Korea’s foundation mythology and are closely associated with Korean culture and folklore.

“Tigers traditionally represent the shape of the Korean Peninsula and especially the white tiger is considered a sacred guardian animal. Its color is also indicative of the snow and ice of winter sports,” POCOG said, adding 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.

For the bear, POCOG said it was symbolic of a strong will and courage.

“The Asiatic black bear is also the symbol animal of Gangwon Province (where Pyeongchang County is situated). 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,” the committee said.

POCOG President Lee Hee-beom said in a statement, “The mascots have been designed to embody the collective will of everyone for the successful hosting of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2018, and experts from various fields contributed in the process. The mascots will now spearhead our communication activities and marketing initiatives. With today’s meaningful step forward, POCOG will use the momentum to gain more public support and excitement for the Games.”

Gunilla Lindberg, head of the IOC Coordination Commission for the PyeongChang Games also said, “The white tiger is a great choice for a mascot. It’s a beautiful animal, strongly associated with Korean culture. It also symbolizes the close link between the Olympic Winter Games and the natural environment. I congratulate the PyeongChang 2018 team on its selection.”

POCOG said it will hold a ceremony to introduce two characters in both Seoul and PyeongChang in July, and the mascots will debut during the Rio Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in August.