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Beijing unveils mascots for 2008 Olympics
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-11 22:00
A plethora of real and mythic creatures were among the candidates considered
by Chinese leaders, Olympic officials and design specialists over the past year.
Among those that didn't make the cut were the dragon and a mischievous magical
monkey out of Chinese folklore.
 The choice, the subject of lively media speculation for months, has been a
secret since it was finalized three months ago, sealed by confidentiality
agreements and the habitual secrecy of the communist government.
At stake for China is one of the most marketable symbols in the Olympics — a
symbol that stands to generate significant revenues and public support for the
Beijing Games, which will cost an estimated $38 billion.
Sales of licensed products, including those with the mascot, brought in about
$300 million at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Host cities keep 10 to 15 percent of
the royalties, helping to defray the costs of staging the Games.
Officials with the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games say
they expect sales of such products to be higher still.
To capitalize on the mascots' publicity, Beijing is launching an extensive
marketing campaign. An animated film put together by Han Meilin, who headed the
design team, was screened at Friday night's unveiling and is expected to be
replayed on Chinese television in coming days.
"This time the mascot design fully combines traditional Chinese culture," Han
was quoted as saying by the Chinese Web site, Sina.com.
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