June 02--There have been some strange Olympic mascots over the years.
Remember the bug-eyed creature -- originally called "Whatzit" -- from the 1996 Atlanta Games? Or the eerily amorphous cyclops from London four years ago?
The organizers of the 2018 Winter Games have selected something a little tamer and more recognizable.
Plump, fuzzy versions of a white tiger named Soohorang and an Asiatic black bear named Bandabi will represent the Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
"The white tiger is a great choice for mascot," said Gunilla Lindberg, an International Olympic Committee official. "It's a beautiful animal, strongly associated with Korean culture."
Both animals appear in the country's mythology and are closely associated with national folklore, officials said.
"The mascots have been designed to embody the collective will of everyone for the successful hosting of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2018," said Hee-boem Lee, president of the organizing committee.
david.wharton@latimes.com
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