Rejected Olympic Mascots 2008

Rejected Olympic Mascots 2008 News and Information

CCTV International: "The Making of the Five Friendlies" (December 28, 2005)
People's Daily: "Beijing Unveils 2008 Olympic Mascots" (November 14, 2005)
Telegraph: "China Solves Olympic Row by Choosing Five Mascots" (November 12, 2005)
San Diego Union-Tribune: "China's Poorer Locales See Gold in Olympics Mascot" (November 4, 2005)
Turkish Daily News: "Tibetan Antelope Leads Race for 2008 Olympic Mascot" (September 12, 2005)
Beijing 2008: "Beijing to select 2008 Olympic Mascots from 662 Designs" (December 14, 2004)
China.org: "Monkey King Prime Candidate for 2008 Olympics Mascot" (November 8, 2003)

Rejected Olympic Mascots 2008 Blogs and Commentaries

Phayul: "Choice of Mascot is 'Attempt to Legitimize Chinese Rule' in Tibet" (November 12, 2005)
Monkey in the News: Monkey King for Possible 2008 Olympic Mascot? (November 4, 2005)
Danwei: Olympic Mascot: No Panda, Please! (May 23, 2005)
Save Chin's Tigers: Chinese Tiger as Mascot for the 2008 Olympic Games (September 30, 2002)

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Guide Note

On November 11, 2005, the Beijing Olympic Committee announced the five official mascots for the 2008 Olympics. Collectively named the Fuwa, the five final characters were selected out of an original pool of 662 designs submitted from provinces throughout China. The designs were judged by a panel of prominent Chinese artists.¹ Many popular designs were ultimately rejected, including a dragon, a tiger, and a crane.

Fast Facts

Official announcement expected in June, 2005²

Final five designs announced on November 11, 2005

Total designs considered: 662

After first round of eliminations: 56

After second round of eliminations: 6³

Designs voted on by a panel of well-known Chinese artists, including Han Meilin

Deliberation process was hidden from the public

Lobbying for local mascots was important for China's rural poor communities looking to profit from the Beijing Olympics⁴