Fu Niu Lele (; literally "lucky happy ox"), was the
mascot
A mascot is any human, animal, or object thought to bring luck, or anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name. Mascots are also used as fi ...
of the
2008 Summer Paralympics
The 2008 Summer Paralympic Games (), the 13th Summer Paralympic Games, took place in Beijing, China from September 6 to 17, 2008. As with the 2008 Summer Olympics, equestrian events were held in Hong Kong and sailing events in Qingdao. It was f ...
in
Beijing
}
Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...
.
The mascot, designed by Wu Guanying (吴冠英), professor at the Academy of Arts and Design at
Tsinghua University
Tsinghua University (; abbr. THU) is a national public research university in Beijing, China. The university is funded by the Ministry of Education.
The university is a member of the C9 League, Double First Class University Plan, Projec ...
, was unveiled on September 6, 2006
Beijing Paralympic Mascot Fu Niu Lele unveiled
, Official website of Beijing 2008
The 2008 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXIX Olympiad () and also known as Beijing 2008 (), were an international multisport event held from 8 to 24 August 2008, in Beijing, China. A total of 10,942 athletes from 204 Nat ...
, September 6, 2006 at the foot of the Great Wall of China's Badaling
Badaling () is the site of the most visited section of the Great Wall of China, approximately northwest of Beijing's city center, in Badaling Town, Yanqing District (within Beijing municipality). The portion of the wall running through the ...
.['Lele' embodies nature and athletic triumph]
People's Daily Online, September 8, 2006
Fu Niu Lele represents a harmonious co-existence between mankind and nature, it represents athletes with a disability striving to make progress, and it represents the Beijing Paralympics Games' concept of "Transcendence, Equality and Integration."[
]
History
There were originally 87 mascot designs suggestions. These were discussed by a jury on December 30, 2005, and shortlisted to three designs: a Chinese river dolphin
The baiji (; IPA: ; ''Lipotes vexillifer'', ''Lipotes'' meaning "left behind" and ''vexillifer'' "flag bearer") is a possibly extinct species of freshwater dolphin native to the Yangtze river system in China. It is thought to be the first dolph ...
(baiji), and two figures from traditional Chinese mythology
Chinese mythology () is mythology that has been passed down in oral form or recorded in literature in the geographic area now known as Greater China. Chinese mythology includes many varied myths from regional and cultural traditions.
Much of t ...
, the Monkey King and Nezha, Ne Zha. A revising group, led by Wu Guanying, looked over the three designs, and found that the dolphin and Monkey King designs could cause problems with intellectual property rights, while the Ne Zha was not suitable.[
They considered looking for an alternative design, and Wu came up with the idea of a cartoon cow. Wu said "I grew up in the countryside and was once a cow herder, so I know that the cow is one of the animals closest to human beings. Cows are well-known for their friendliness and their affinity to the humans who care for them."][
The colours of Fu Niu Lele come from traditional Chinese New Year drawings and toys.][
In the Official Paralympic mascot video, it becomes apparent that the mark on Fu Niu Lele's forehead is made of a dandelion seed Pappus (flower structure), pappus.
]
See also
* The Fuwa, Olympic mascot, mascots of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing
}
Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...
* Miga, Quatchi, Sumi and Mukmuk, Sumi and Mukmuk, Paralympic mascot, mascots of the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver
* Vinicius and Tom, Tom, mascot
A mascot is any human, animal, or object thought to bring luck, or anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name. Mascots are also used as fi ...
of the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro
* Miraitowa and Someity, Someity, mascot
A mascot is any human, animal, or object thought to bring luck, or anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name. Mascots are also used as fi ...
of the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo
* Bing Dwen Dwen and Shuey Rhon Rhon, Shuey Rhon Rhon, mascot
A mascot is any human, animal, or object thought to bring luck, or anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name. Mascots are also used as fi ...
of the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing
References
External links
The Official Mascot of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games (English)The Official Mascot of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games (Chinese)Fu Niu Lele costumed characters at Beijing 2008
on YouTube
{{Olympic mascots
2008 Summer Paralympics
Chinese mascots
Fictional cattle
Paralympic mascots
Fictional characters from Beijing