Fuwa Mascots

Fuwa is the collective name for the five mascots of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Each Fuwa represents specific Olympics events. Their appearances and costumes are modeled after different aspects of traditional Chinese culture.

1. Beibei the Fish
2. Jingjing the Panda
3. Huanhuan the Olympic Flame
4. Yingying the Tibetan Antelope
5. Nini the Swallow

Soon after the final designs for the Fuwa were announced, people took offense to their official English name, the "Five Friendlies." Critics cited the similarity to phrases, "friendless" and "friend lies," which prompted the Olympic Committee to change the English name to the pinyin phrase, "Fuwa." Chinese nationals were then offended, alleging that the use of phonetic pinyin was an inaccurate representation of the Chinese language.Times Online: Olympic Friendlies come under fire (October 17, 2006)

• Google News: Fuwa
• China Daily: Beijing Olympic Float brings new inspirations to Rose Parade (January 2, 2008)
• China Daily: Beijing finally unveils its Olympic mascots - five Fuwa (2005)
  • "Sales of licensed products, including those with the mascot, have brought in about US$300 million at the Sydney and Athens Olympics. Host cities keep 10 to 15 percent of the royalties, helping to defray the costs of staging the Games."
• Pacific Daily News: Fuwa want to be your Friends
• Times Online: Olympic Friendlies come under fire (2006)
• CBS News: Meet The Mascots, 5 Mascots Introduced After Months Of Secrecy (2005)
  • "It is the most number of mascots any Olympic Games has had in more than 30 years. The Salt Lake City and Sydney Games both had three. "