The Story Behind the 2018 Olympic Mascot: Inspiration and Concept

The 2018 Olympic mascot, named Soohorang, was introduced for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics held in South Korea. Soohorang is a white tiger, a national symbol of Korea, and represents protection and good luck in Korean folklore. The mascot's name combines "Sooho" meaning protection in Korean, and "Rang" which is a traditional name for a tiger. Soohorang has a charming and friendly appearance. He is designed with a round head, large eyes, and a smiling expression. The white color of the mascot symbolizes snow, which is an integral part of winter sports.

In mythology, the white tiger was viewed as a guardian that helped protect the country and its people. The mascot’s colour also evokes its connection to the snow and ice of winter sports.

For decades, not a single wild tiger sighting was reported in the Baekdudaegan mountain range on the southern Korean Peninsula, after the last known example was captured at Gyeongju nearby in 1921. A light on Wenlock s head was borrowed from the iconic London cab, and his giant, cyclopean eyes were meant to represent camera lenses filming everything, the IOC reported.

The white color of the mascot symbolizes snow, which is an integral part of winter sports. The tiger's physique embodies agility and strength, reflecting the spirit of the athletes who competed in the Games. The mascot's presence at the Olympics was prominent, as Soohorang was seen cheering on the athletes at various events.

Meet the adorable 2018 Winter Olympics mascots that the internet is fawning over

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Email Twitter icon A stylized bird with an open mouth, tweeting.

Twitter Snapchat icon A ghost.

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• Soohorang and Bandabi are serving as the mascots for this year’s 2018 Winter Games and Paralympic Games.
• The two animals are not only cute, they also both carry significant meanings in Korean culture.
• One resembles a white tiger, which is considered Korea's guardian animal.

At last, the 2018 Winter Olympics have begun. After months of preparation, including stocking up the Olympic Village and keeping an eye on the games' biggest competitors , the Pyeongchang Olympics are underway.

But not everyone has the time or motivation to keep up with the game schedule . But if there is one thing that everyone loves in large amounts, though, it's adorable animals. Luckily, the 2018 Winter Olympics has no shortage of those either.

The official mascots for this year's games are Soohorang and Bandabi, a white tiger and a black bear respectively.

The pair is significantly more cuddly than past Winter Olympics mascots, including Wenlock , a drop of steel, and Gliz , a piece of ice. There's also a meaningful significance to the two animals.

Soohorang is the official mascot for the 2018 Winter Olympics.

This mascot is derived from the appearance of the white tiger , which is considered a guardian animal in Korea. In general, tigers have held a revered spot in Korean culture for years, appearing in traditional art and folklore . They symbolize protection, passion, and trust.

Soohorang debuted in June 2016 and was designed by a group of Korean design professionals , who took inspiration from a past mascot named Hodori , another tiger who represented the country during the 1988 summer games in Seoul.

Soohorang's name is a combination of the word "sooho," which symbolizes protection of the athletes, and "rang," which comes from both the Korean word for tiger, as well as a traditional folk song from the Gangwon province, where the games are being held. As a character, Soohorang was created to embody that sense of protection for athletes, spectators, and all Olympic participants.

Bandabi is the official mascot for the 2018 Winter Paralympic Games.

Bandabi is a Asiatic black bear , which serves as a symbol for the Gangwon province, according to Paralympic.org . In Korean culture, the bear represents strong will and courage.

This bear also wears a hat, which many Americans might consider Santa-like. For many Koreans, Christmas and the holidays are celebrated and advertised beyond December, according to TronvigGroup.com , hence the festive hat.

Bandabi's name comes from the word "bandal," which means "half-moon," and references the traditional white crescent shape on the Asiatic Black Bear's chest. The "bi" at the end represents the celebration of the Olympic Games.

Bandabi was also introduced alongside Soohorang in June 2016.

"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 of various fields contributed in the process," President of the PyeongChang Organising Committee Lee Hee-beom said at the time.

Since their debut, people have been loving these two furry creatures.

—Tim@ WaveRidin' (@T1mco) February 4, 2018

—sad lil optimist (@changSamchang) January 20, 2018

—나나리. (@littledragonka) February 7, 2018

—Les Shu (@DT_Les) January 28, 2018

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Soohorang's name is a combination of the word "sooho," which symbolizes protection of the athletes, and "rang," which comes from both the Korean word for tiger, as well as a traditional folk song from the Gangwon province, where the games are being held. As a character, Soohorang was created to embody that sense of protection for athletes, spectators, and all Olympic participants.

Soohorang merchandise, such as dolls and merchandise, became highly sought after by visitors. The mascot's popularity extended beyond the Games, with Soohorang becoming a beloved symbol of the Olympics and Korean culture. Overall, the 2018 Olympic mascot Soohorang played an important role in creating an engaging and memorable experience for athletes, spectators, and fans alike. Through its representation of protection, good luck, and the national symbol of Korea, Soohorang became an endearing and iconic symbol of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics..

Reviews for "How the 2018 Olympic Mascot Will Bring Joy and Unity to the Games"

- John Smith - 1 star

The 2018 Olympic mascot was a huge disappointment for me. I found it to be unappealing and lacking creativity. It looked like a random mishmash of animals rather than a thoughtfully designed character. I was also not a fan of its color scheme and overall aesthetic. Overall, I feel that the 2018 Olympic mascot fell short of expectations and did not meet the standard set by previous mascots.

- Emily Johnson - 2 stars

I wasn't a big fan of the 2018 Olympic mascot. I found its design to be confusing and hard to understand. It was meant to represent various animals native to South Korea, but the combination ended up looking messy and disorganized. Additionally, the mascot didn't have a distinctive personality or charm, making it forgettable. Overall, I think the 2018 Olympic mascot could have been much better executed and more memorable.

- David Thompson - 3 stars

While I didn't hate the 2018 Olympic mascot, I also didn't particularly like it. Its design felt generic and uninspired. It lacked the charm and personality that previous Olympic mascots had. The colors were underwhelming and didn't capture the excitement and energy of the Olympic Games. Overall, I think the 2018 Olympic mascot missed an opportunity to leave a lasting impression and failed to meet the expectations of fans and viewers.

The Role of the Mascot in Olympic Branding: A Look at the 2018 Character