Even at this very moment, preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia are in full swing. Venues and facilities necessary to stage this event successfully are already under construction. In addition, marketing, financial, and security details are already being extensively mapped out. In fact, a staggering 327 billion rubles, or equivalent to more than 10 billion dollars, is being allocated by Russia to prepare for this Olympics, a world event that they would be hosting for the first time since 1980.
Included in these preparations is the selection of mascots. But it is interesting to note that mascots aren't really part of the original symbols of the Olympic Games. It is only during the 73rd International Olympic Committee session held in Munich that the idea of an Olympic mascot is approved. Created to promote that particular iteration of the games, the mascot reflects both the cultural characteristics of the host country and the values of the Olympic Movement. There are no regulations regarding the procedure of choosing the mascot, but the Executive board of the IOC must approve it as it is one of the symbols of the Olympic Games.
The mascot selection process for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi went underway on March 2, 2008 in conjunction with the presidential elections. Sochi residents voted along with their ballots 4 candidates for the mascot design. However, the 2014 Sochi Organizing Committee deemed that this should be held later because they believe that the mascot must be a consensus of all Russian citizens. So a competition was held in Russia to determine which mascot designs will be selected to represent the 2014 Winter Games. From September 1 to December 5 2010, a total of 24,048 ideas were received by the Organizing Committee. Among these, 11 are selected to be among the final candidates, and were presented in a TV program "Talismaniya: The Beginning". Another nationally televised program, entitled "Talismaniya. Sochi 2014 – The Final", aired the final results of the voting.
Three winners were selected. The decision to name three mascots is to represent the three steps of the Olympic podium. The winners are: the White Bear, authored by Oleg Serdechniy of Sochi, the Leopard, authored by Vadim Pak of Nakhodka, and the Hare, authored by Silvija Petrova of New Buyanovo Village. In addition to these winners, the two mascots of the 2010 Winter Paralympics were also named. They are the Ray of Light, authored by Natalia Balashova of Moscow, and the Snowflake, authored by Anna Zhilinsky of Saint Petersburg. These mascots would be the official mascots of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi and the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games to be also held in Sochi, and will forever remain as part of the history of the Olympic movement.
Included in these preparations is the selection of mascots. But it is interesting to note that mascots aren't really part of the original symbols of the Olympic Games. It is only during the 73rd International Olympic Committee session held in Munich that the idea of an Olympic mascot is approved. Created to promote that particular iteration of the games, the mascot reflects both the cultural characteristics of the host country and the values of the Olympic Movement. There are no regulations regarding the procedure of choosing the mascot, but the Executive board of the IOC must approve it as it is one of the symbols of the Olympic Games.
The mascot selection process for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi went underway on March 2, 2008 in conjunction with the presidential elections. Sochi residents voted along with their ballots 4 candidates for the mascot design. However, the 2014 Sochi Organizing Committee deemed that this should be held later because they believe that the mascot must be a consensus of all Russian citizens. So a competition was held in Russia to determine which mascot designs will be selected to represent the 2014 Winter Games. From September 1 to December 5 2010, a total of 24,048 ideas were received by the Organizing Committee. Among these, 11 are selected to be among the final candidates, and were presented in a TV program "Talismaniya: The Beginning". Another nationally televised program, entitled "Talismaniya. Sochi 2014 – The Final", aired the final results of the voting.
Three winners were selected. The decision to name three mascots is to represent the three steps of the Olympic podium. The winners are: the White Bear, authored by Oleg Serdechniy of Sochi, the Leopard, authored by Vadim Pak of Nakhodka, and the Hare, authored by Silvija Petrova of New Buyanovo Village. In addition to these winners, the two mascots of the 2010 Winter Paralympics were also named. They are the Ray of Light, authored by Natalia Balashova of Moscow, and the Snowflake, authored by Anna Zhilinsky of Saint Petersburg. These mascots would be the official mascots of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi and the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games to be also held in Sochi, and will forever remain as part of the history of the Olympic movement.