# Meet the 2012 Olympic mascots

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-2012-olympic-mascots/540033>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [May 19, 2010, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-2012-olympic-mascots/540033 "2010-05-19T19:00:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-2012-olympic-mascots/540033/41 "2010-05-20T05:12:33Z")

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I kind of like them.

But then again, I was in China for the insane hype that was the 2008 Olympics. It almost seems like Britain is making fun of all that.

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**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-2012-olympic-mascots/540033/42 "2010-05-20T05:14:22Z")

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I kinda like 'em. They amuse me, and if they made them in a sqeaky toy version, I’d pick them up. Though that pose in the photo makes me think they’re either trying to parody [Hulk Hogan](http://georgiastateguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/hulk_hogan_-_terry_bolea_153-365x450.jpg), or in the middle of listening to Soulja Boy or something…

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**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-2012-olympic-mascots/540033/43 "2010-05-20T06:21:53Z")

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Sweet fancy Moses! They’re horrifying!

–Cliffy

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**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-2012-olympic-mascots/540033/44 "2010-05-20T06:33:42Z")

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I was hoping I’d be the first to make the Kang and Kodos reference but it’s so obvious that I didn’t have a prayer. I never know what the hell the designers are thinking with these things.

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**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-2012-olympic-mascots/540033/45 "2010-05-20T08:00:15Z")

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> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#):
>
> And I thought the [Vancouver mascots](http://www.boingboing.net/_wordpress_wp-content_uploads_2007_11_2010.jpg) were ridiculous looking. Yes, nothing says “Canada” like stupid-looking anime. At least we didn’t have Kodos and Kang. 😃

Hey - I loved the Vancouver mascots. They were ridiculously cute. Especially the ones who were wearing the red Canada mittens. Way, way cuter than the snow ball & ice cube in Torino.

These kind of scare me. But at least they don’t have stars flying out of their butts.

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**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-2012-olympic-mascots/540033/46 "2010-05-20T08:15:24Z")

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That’s a good mascot… for me to poop on!

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**Author:** ![Foldup\_Rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df788c/32.png) [@Foldup\_Rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foldup_Rabbit)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-2012-olympic-mascots/540033/47 "2010-05-20T08:36:45Z")

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> [@Mr.Kobayashi](#):
>
> Kill it with fire!

That was exactly my initial response. But the organisers said that children don’t want fuzzy and cuddly; they want provocative imagery with an interesting backstory.

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**Author:** ![lshaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e36b37/32.png) [@lshaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lshaw)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-2012-olympic-mascots/540033/48 "2010-05-20T10:22:49Z")

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> [@needscoffee](#):
>
> I agree with the comment on the page that says that the blue one looks like it was designed by Kotex.

Ah good, so I wasn’t the only one who thought it looked like a maxi pad 😃

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**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-2012-olympic-mascots/540033/49 "2010-05-20T10:34:13Z")

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I thought they’d hit rock bottom with the Simpsons-esque logo but this has really plumbed the depths. I don’t even care to think about what the designers were thinking when they came up with that.

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**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-2012-olympic-mascots/540033/50 "2010-05-20T15:00:49Z")

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> [@even\_sven](#):
>
> I kind of like them.
> 
> But then again, I was in China for the insane hype that was the 2008 Olympics. It almost seems like Britain is making fun of all that.

I think you’ve nailed it here, remember…this is the UK. This is really all a bit of fun.  
Consider that everything is done tongue-in-cheek. We don’t ALLOW people to take themselves too seriously.  
The mascots (and the logo) have sparked conversation, therefore job done!

FWIW I like the logo and the mascots, how tedious it would be to have yet another quasi-fascist branding + cuddly monstrosity.  
If the London Olympics are remembered for Lisa Simpson turning tricks and metallic jellies with ADHD…well, consider me happy.

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**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-2012-olympic-mascots/540033/51 "2010-05-20T16:36:02Z")

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> [@Foldup\_Rabbit](#):
>
> they want provocative imagery with an interesting backstory.

I do like their back story actually, it’s interesting. They’re two pieces of metal carved out by a steel worker for his family, and now that they’re alive, they’re going to take the time until 2012 to learn how to play the various Olympic Games and such. I’d imagine it’d be cute to see those two lil’ guys bumbling about trying to figure out how to run track, and do the hurdles, and then figure out how to play basketball and such things… Apparently there will be cartoons of them, so Kodos to the Kids in the UK who chose Substance over Style!

I hope they don’t talk, but if they do talk… they should be voiced by Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie, just because that to me is the ultimate British Duo. Then again, I don’t even know what these lil’ guys genders are…

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**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-2012-olympic-mascots/540033/52 "2010-05-20T16:53:30Z")

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> [@ToeJam](#):
>
> Then again, I don’t even know what these lil’ guys genders are…

Made from metal? They might be robosexuals.

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**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-2012-olympic-mascots/540033/53 "2010-05-20T17:03:16Z")

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> [@ToeJam](#):
>
> I do like their back story actually, it’s interesting. They’re two pieces of metal carved out by a steel worker for his family, and now that they’re alive, they’re going to take the time until 2012 to learn how to play the various Olympic Games and such.

Here’s first of the backstory videos:

[http://www.london2012.com/mascots](http://www.london2012.com/mascots)

It’s kinda sweet. I’m cautiously optimistic about what they are trying to do with this.

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**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-2012-olympic-mascots/540033/54 "2010-05-20T17:05:13Z")

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God, you really can’t unsee the Lisa Simpson blow-job thing. It’s like the Fedex arrow.

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**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-2012-olympic-mascots/540033/55 "2010-05-20T17:37:29Z")

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> [@Baron\_Greenback](#):
>
> God, you really can’t unsee the Lisa Simpson blow-job thing. It’s like the Fedex arrow.

True, but…in a good way I think.

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**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-2012-olympic-mascots/540033/56 "2010-05-20T17:51:46Z")

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I for one, welcome our mono-ocular, penis headed, lobster clawed overlords.

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**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-2012-olympic-mascots/540033/57 "2010-05-20T19:51:27Z")

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> [@Grey](#):
>
> That’s one fucking angry looking cyclops on the left.:eek:

You would be too if you had a giant birthmark of Lisa Simpson giving head on your chest!

I think it would behoove the IOC to have the host city candidates design and submit this stuff \*before \*the final choice is made. It gets harder and harder to take the games seriously anymore.

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**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-2012-olympic-mascots/540033/58 "2010-05-20T21:41:31Z")

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Got it in one - the first comment on the OP’s link -

> [@](#):
>
> I think I speak for everyone when I say:
> 
> Jesus Fucking Christ

Do any of you comic book geeks remember some green, one-eyed monster from (I think) a Green Lantern comic from decades and decades ago? They’re reminding me of that.

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**Author:** ![toodlepip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/97f17d/32.png) [@toodlepip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toodlepip)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-2012-olympic-mascots/540033/59 "2010-05-20T22:03:02Z")

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I **like** the [logo](http://regmedia.co.uk/2007/06/05/alternative_olympic_logo.gif).

And apparently, [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oujidOytHA) is how they came up with it.

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**Author:** ![Foldup\_Rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df788c/32.png) [@Foldup\_Rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foldup_Rabbit)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-2012-olympic-mascots/540033/60 "2010-05-21T02:09:05Z")

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> [@ToeJam](#):
>
> Kodos to the Kids in the UK who chose Substance over Style!

I dunno, I like substance and all, but I’d prefer if my first impression wasn’t OH GOD OH GOD KILL IT WITH FIRE.

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