Welcome to Beijing

These are the “Fuwa,” and they are the official mascots of the 2008 Olympics which will take place later this year in Beijing, China. Color-coordinated with the five olympic rings, they are named Beibei (the fish), Jingjing (the panda), Huanhuan (the Olympic flame), Yingying (the Tibetan antelope) and Nini (the swallow).

The official propaganda: [The Fuwa] embody both the landscape and the dreams and aspirations of people from every part of the vast country of China. In their origins and their headpieces, you can see the five elements of nature -- the sea, forest, fire, earth and sky -- all stylistically rendered in ways that represent the deep traditional influences of Chinese folk art and ornamentation. Fuwa will seek to unite the world in peace and friendship through the Olympic spirit. Dedicated to helping Beijing 2008 spread its theme of One World, One Dream to every continent, Fuwa reflect the deep desire of the Chinese people to reach out to the world in friendship through the Games -- and to invite every man, woman and child to take part in the great celebration of human solidarity that China will host in the light of the flame in 2008.

I would have liked to have sat in on the copy-writing sessions that came up with that stuff; the gag-quotient must have been off the charts.

Anyway, I don’t know about you but I think these creatures are more than a little creepy. You might also notice that Yingying, the Tibetan antelope, is the only one on the run and might be (symbolically, of course) in fear of her very existence. I wonder what the Dalaidalai Lamalama thinks about this.

Of course I may not be the first
one that should be consulted on
consumer reaction(s) since the
Teletubbies also freaked me out
when they first hit the tube (and
the toy stores).

If you paid the least bit of attention you might have noticed the combined names, Bei and Jing, are the city where the games will take place. The next three, Huan, Ying and Ni mean “welcome to” in chinese and, of course, a new industry is born as millions of trinkets, tchotchkes, stuffed creatures and who knows what all are pushed onto a greedy and gullible public. Hopefully these items will not contain anything lead-based or have electronic listening devices (or worse) planted in their cute little butts.

Oh, it just occurred to me to ask and I’m amazed I didn’t think of it before; which one is the gay one?