BEIJING, Nov. 11 (Xinhuanet) -- To the surprise of all, Beijing unveiled a set of five doll mascots for the 2008 Olympic Games Friday evening, exactly 1,000 days before the event's opening ceremony.
The long-anticipated mascots, which embody the natural characteristics of four of China's popular animals -- the Fish, the Panda, the Tibetan Antelope, the Swallow -- and the Olympic Flame, were presented at a televised grand ceremony inside the Workers' Gymnasium.
It is the first time that more than three images share Summer Olympic mascot duty. The 2000 Sydney Games featured three animal mascots --Olly the Kookaburra, Syd the Platypus and Millie the Spiny Anteater.
"We decided to produce five mascots instead of one, because we think no single figure can embody China's profound and diversified culture," said Han Meilin, chief of the mascto designers' group.
Each of the Beijing Olympic mascots has a rhyming two-syllable name -- a traditional way of expressing affection for children in China. Beibei is the Fish, Jingjing is the Panda, Huanhuan is theOlympic Flame, Yingying is the Tibetan antelope and Nini is the Swallow.
When their names are put together -- Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni --they say "Welcome to Beijing".
The five elements of nature -- the sea, forest, fire, earth and sky -- can be found in their origins and headpieces, all stylistically rendered in ways that represent the deep traditional influences of Chinese folk art and ornamentation.
Each of the mascots also symbolizes a different blessing --prosperity, happiness, passion, health and good luck.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge sent a letter of congratulation to the BOCOG.
"China is lucky to have so many beautiful animals to represent the Olympic spirit," said Rogge in the letter.
"I love them all. And I am delighted that they will carry traditional Chinese blessings all over the world.
"I believe that this little group of friends -- the carp, the panda, the flame, the antelope and the swallow -- will be extremely popular and will help to spread Olympic messages throughout the world," he added.
Many ordinary citizens expressed their surprise at the number of the mascots.
"I didn't expect that there will five ma
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