Stumpy – ICC Cricket World Cup 2011
“A picture speaks thousand words” I agree with the saying, like when I see a picture of a wretched women, I try to imagine the adverse conditions she had been going through similarly a picture portraying gala shows the bliss among the public.
It is more than a picture, it is a mascot!
A mascot generally means a symbol or an icon which is used as a mode to publicize an event. The origin of this ideology is unknown though, but mascots have been a real event promoter when it comes to various sports events. A mascot can be an imaginary character, an animal or a bird, a celestial body or just as simple as a human.
Why is this in TheSportsMirror?
Well asked, it is just the spread of the sport and the special message along with the mascot. For instance, at the 1994 Asiad held at Japan, Hiroshima the place that saw the most catastrophic twin attacks in the war history, spread the message of peace and love through the Asian Games mascots, the dove couple named Poppo (male) and Cuccu (female).
A symbiotic effect is achieved, the game gets promoted (though games like Olympics and Asiads do not need promotion; among the budding minds a tool to attract is essential) and also the mascots get familiarized among the public, if the specie happens to be endangered, the word of protection is said to the world.
It was 1982 Asiad at New Delhi where the idea of having a mascot for the game arose. It is still known to all of us “Appu, the elephant” who can forget this big suit-wearing mammal?
It was the second Asiad held at India after 1951 where through Appu the game reached every nook of the rural sands of India. Thanks to Appu!
Similarly, at the 1990 CWG held at Auckland, New Zealand the mascot was a Kiwi bird named “Goldie”. As the kiwis are endangered this initiated proper grooming of kiwis at NZ and proliferated the idea of protecting it.
The reciprocal relationship is essential in today’s world, sports has done many good to the men and the wildlife.
At times the mascots are non-living; they spread the idea or the history in this case. One good example would be the Olympics coming ahead, London 2012 where the mascot is just a piece of steel named “Wenlock”.
What is so great about this steel droplet?
Wenlock is named after the Shropshire town of Much Wenlock which inspired Pierre de Coubertin to launch the major legendary event, modern Olympics.
This steel is used to build the Olympic stadiums.
A mascot has a long narration behind or it will hint to an extraordinary beginning. Both cases have occurred and happening. Be it endangered species or any illogical animal possessing the essence of merry or just a non-alive thing (which gets life though) it is loved by all.
From Appu to Shera, Mac, the dog to Wira the orang utan it is brought to life, simply resuscitated.
Mascots promote the sport events from the grassroots to the sky highs, the game should be known first prior to be watched. The mascot gets engrossed more into the people who help them to delineate the game in later moments.
Tags: Appu, Asiads, Cuccu, Goldie, Mascot, Mascots, Olympics, Poppo, Promoter, Shera, Sport, Sports, Stumpy, Wenlock
