Fun or Frightening? The History of Olympic Mascot Design | CISNewsStudio1s

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For over fifty years, Olympic athletes have been cheered on by quirky mascots that reflect the host city’s culture and history. These mascots—often furry, feathered, or even slimy—are designed years in advance, playing a key role in embodying the Olympic spirit. According to the International Olympic Committee, mascots help spread a “festive atmosphere” and capture the excitement of the Games.

Throughout the decades, the Olympics have seen a wide range of mascots, from snowmen and sasquatches to cowboy-hat-wearing bears and aliens. This year, the mascot takes the form of the iconic red Phrygian cap, a symbol of freedom worn by emancipated Roman slaves and associated with the French Revolution.

The tradition began in 1968 with the Grenoble Winter Games in France, where designer Aline Lafargue introduced the first Olympic mascot, “Shuss.” Created in a single night, Shuss featured a two-toned head and a lightning-bolt-shaped leg attached to skis, setting the stage for a long line of whimsical mascots to follow.

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