by Ramona Taylor

Created on: November 22, 2009   Last Updated: November 23, 2009

On February 12th 2010, the XXI Winter Olympics and the Winter Paralympics will commence in Vancouver, British Columbia. Amid the flags and pageantry, guests and fans of the winter sports, visitors and athletes will be entertained by Miga, Sumi, and Quatchi. Who are these creatures you ask? They are the mascots of the Vancouver Games!

HISTORY OF OLYMPIC MASCOTS

Since the 1968 Winter Olympics, the official games have had mascots. The mascot generally represents an animal native to the hosting country or a well known cultural figure. The mascot serves as an ambassador that conveys the spirit of the games and their home city, especially to young children. In the past, such mascots have been Misha (brown bear from Moscow), Sam (the bald eagle from the United States), and Hodori (a tiger from Korea.)

CANADA'S PAST CHOICES

As past host of the Olympic Games, Canada has offered mascots in the past. In the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, the mascot was Amik, a beaver. Amik represented the spirit of hard work. In 1988, for the Winter Olympics in Calgary, the world met Hidy and Howdy, polar bear siblings, whose names expressed feelings of brotherhood and welcome. Both are very important parts of the Olympic spirit.

2010 VANCOUVER MASCOTS- MYTHS AND LEGENDS

Miga

Miga is an adorable sea bear who lives in the ocean with her family off the coast of British Vancouver. She loves snowboarding. According to First Nations' legends, a sea bear part killer whale and part bear. The myth, Gonakadet, is one of the known tales of the sea bear. Miga is a combination of killer whale and Kermode bear.

Killer Whales are the largest members of the dolphin family. They have been called by names such as Orca, Blackfish and Wolves of the Sea. They travel in family groups and depending on the type will eat seals, fish, and sharks.

The Kermode, also called spirit bears, are rare white bears that can only be found in British Columbia. They are not polar bears, but belong to the family of Black Bear Family. And, because of their unique and ghost-like appearance, there are prominent in Canadian First Nations and Native American mythology.

Sumi

Sumi is a mixture of the thunderbird, orca, and black bear and serves as the mascot of the Paralympics. Sumi lives in the mountains of British Columbia. Sumi wears a hat of an orca, wings of the Thunderbird, and has furry legs like a black bear. He wishes to learn all the sports of the Games.

According to First Nations' legends, Thunderbirds are powerful

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