The Asian Games mascots are fictional characters, usually an animal native to the area or human figures, who represent the cultural heritage of the place where the Asian Games are taking place. The mascots are often used to help market the Asian Games to a younger audience. Every Asian Games since 1982 has its own mascot. Appu, the mascot for the 1982 Asian Games, was the first mascot.

Asian Games mascots

GamesCityMascotCharacterSignificance
1982 Asian Games New Delhi Appu Indian elephant
1986 Asian Games Seoul Hodori Tiger cub Common in Korean legends. Also used in the 1988 Summer Olympics.
1986 Asian Winter Games Sapporo Unnamed mascot Squirrel
1990 Asian Games Beijing Pan Pan Panda
1990 Asian Winter Games Sapporo Unnamed mascot Squirrel
1994 Asian Games Hiroshima Poppo and Cuccu Two white doves Poppo and Cuccu, male and female respectively, represent peace and harmony.[1]
1996 Asian Winter Games Harbin Doudou Character inspired by the pea plant
1998 Asian Games Bangkok Chai-yo Thai elephant Elephants are admired in Thailand for their big stature, fortitude and strength. The mascot's name "Chai-yo", means "hurrah" in Thai and represents unity and solidarity.[2]
1999 Asian Winter Games Kangwon Gomdori Half-moon black bear cub
2002 Asian Games Busan Duria Seagull Seagulls are sometimes called the city bird of Busan. The mascot's name, "Duria", is a combination of the two words 'Durative' and 'Asia'. It can also mean "You and Me Together" in the Korean language and expresses the ideal of the Games: to promote unity and partnership among Asian countries.[3]
2003 Asian Winter Games Aomori Winta Black woodpecker
2006 Asian Games Doha Orry Qatari oryx The oryx is a native antelope of the Middle East and the national animal of Qatar. Orry was chosen by the games' Organising Committee to represent energy, determination, sportsmanship spirit, commitment, enthusiasm, participation, respect, peace and fun.[4]
2007 Asian Winter Games Changchun Lulu Sika deer The sika deer is a native deer of East Asia. In Chinese culture, this deer is considered to be a symbol of good luck and fortune.[5]
2010 Asian Games Guangzhou A Xiang, A He, A Ru, A Yi and Le Yangyang Five goat rams The Chinese character "yang," or "goat," is an auspicious symbol because, when read together, the Chinese names of the five rams are a message of blessing, literally meaning "harmony, blessings, success and happiness" (祥和如意樂洋洋).[6] Guangzhou is also called "the Goat City" (羊城) or "Five Goats City" (五羊城).
2011 Asian Winter Games Astana and Almaty Irby Snow leopard[7]
2014 Asian Games Incheon Barame, Chumuro, and Vichuon Three spotted seals The mascots' name means wind, dance and light in Korean. According to the organizers, the mascots were chosen as symbolic to the future peace between South Korea and North Korea.[8]
2017 Asian Winter Games Sapporo Ezomon Flying squirrel The mascot is modeled after a very special type of flying squirrel only found in the Hokkaido region of Japan.[9]
2018 Asian Games Jakarta and Palembang Bhin Bhin Bird-of-paradise The mascots reflect Indonesia's diversity with three animals, each from different regions in Indonesia. Bhin Bhin wear a vest with Asmat traditional motifs from the Papua, Eastern Indonesia Region, which symbolize strategy. Atung wear a batik tumpal sarong from Central Indonesian Region, which symbolizes speed and a "Never give up fighting" spirit. Kaka (originally named Ika) wear a flower motif from Palembang's Songket scraf that represents Western Indonesia Region, which symbolize power.[10]
Atung Bawean deer
Kaka Javan rhinoceros
2022 Asian Games Hangzhou Congcong, Lianlian, and Chenchen Three futuristic robot characters Each mascot reflects a World Heritage of Hangzhou. Congcong reflects jade cong from the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City. Chenchen reflects Gongchen Bridge on the Grand Canal. Lianlian reflects lotus from the West Lake. The whole group is named as 'Jiangnanyi', meaning 'Remembering Jiangnan', originated from the title of a famous ci poem in praise of the landscape of the city, written by Bai Juyi, then prefect of Hangzhou.[11]
2026 Asian Games Nagoya スパカット蠱にゃっつう藦っ緒のヒャッサ Robotron and Catmanius robotic japaman emperotron dog
2030 Asian Games Doha TBA TBA TBA
2034 Asian Games Riyadh TBA TBA TBA

Asian Beach Games mascots

GamesCityMascotCharacterSignificance
2008 Asian Beach Games Bali Province Jalak bali Bali starling This is a bird species endemic to the island of Bali.
2010 Asian Beach Games Muscat Al Jebel Tahr
Al Reeh Houbara bustard
Al Med Green turtle
2012 Asian Beach Games Haiyang Sha Sha, Yang Yang, and Hai Hai Characters inspired by dragons and phoenixes.[12]
2014 Asian Beach Games Phuket Sintu, Sakorn, and Samut Three green sea turtles In Thai, "Sintu", "Sakorn", and "Samut" all mean water. The sea turtle is a symbol of endurance, development, sustainability and growth.[13]
2016 Asian Beach Games Da Nang Chim Yen Swiftlet Special characteristic of the southern central coastal region of Vietnam is famous for its bird nests - a product of high economic value in general and a specialty of Da Nang in particular.
2020 Asian Beach Games Sanya Yaya Eld's deer The eld's deer is the indigenous animal reputed as the "Elf of Hainan Island" and a Class I Key Protected Species in China. The first "ya" of the mascot's name comes from "Sanya", and the second one comes from Asia, whose Chinese name is "Yazhou".

Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games mascots

GamesCityMascotCharacterSignificance
2005 Asian Indoor Games Bangkok Hey and Há Couple of elephants The blue and athletic elephant was named Hey and the yellow and plump one was Há. They were to convey the meaning of amusement, merriment and relaxation, thus in a way reflecting the natures of the Asian Indoor Games a great deal.
2007 Asian Indoor Games Macau Mei Mei Black-faced spoonbill[14]
2009 Asian Indoor Games Hanoi Gà Hồ Hồ chicken The Hồ chicken is a distinctly Vietnamese rare breed of chicken, familiar as a symbol in Vietnam. According to folklore, the chicken have the five qualities of a man of honour: literacy, martial arts, physical strength, humanity and loyalty.
2009 Asian Martial Arts Games Bangkok Hanuman Yindee Monkey "Hanuman" is a white – creamy super monkey from Ramakien and considers it as the God of the ape which has every kind of fighting skill with strong determination of great success.[15]
2013 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games Incheon Barame, Chumuro, and Vichuan Three spotted seal See 2014 Asian Games.
2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games Ashgabat Wepaly Central Asian Shepherd Dog The mascot's name means loyal friend in Turkmen. The Central Asian Shepherd Dog, locally known as Alabai is renowned as a courageous animal for many centuries has helped Turkmen shepherds to safeguard flocks of cattle in heavy conditions.[16]
2021 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games Bangkok and Chonburi Fighting Parrot Parrot The official mascot depicting a fighting parrot wearing a mongkhon (a type of headgear worn by Muay Thai athletes) who has intelligence, agility and a fighting spirit, making a gesture of inviting athletes and sports competitors to the victory of friendship.[17]

Asian Youth Games mascots

GamesCityMascotCharacterSignificance
2009 Asian Youth Games Singapore Frasia Lion The mascot's name, "Frasia", means Friends of Asia.[18] The mascot embodies the values and spirit of the Asian Youth Games. The sprightly lion exemplifies friendship, respect and excellence. It constitutes a spirited representation of young hearts and minds in pursuit of sporting excellence.[19]
2013 Asian Youth Games Nanjing Yuan Yuan Eosimias sinensis Eosimias sinensis is the earliest higher primate to date found in Jiangsu Province.[20]
2025 Asian Youth Games Tashkent TBA TBA TBA

References

  1. "12th Asian Games Hiroshima 1994 - Poppo & CuCCu". GAGOC. gz2010.cn (official website of 2010 Asian Games). April 27, 2008. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  2. "13th Asian Games Bangkok 1998 - Chai-Yo". GAGOC. gz2010.cn (official website of 2010 Asian Games). April 27, 2008. Archived from the original on October 28, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  3. "Mascot, Busan 2002". OCA. Archived from the original on 2010-06-16. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
  4. "Mascot of Asian Games 2006". Travour.com. 2006-12-05. Archived from the original on 2008-02-16. Retrieved 2011-05-02.
  5. "Mascot of 2007 Changchun Asian Winter Games". Archived from the original on 2012-03-02. Retrieved 2012-09-09. China.com-Mascot of 2007 Changchun Asian Winter Games
  6. "Mascot for 16th Asian Games to be held in 2010 unveiled". Beijing2008.cn. April 29, 2008. Archived from the original on October 29, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
  7. The Mascot-IRBY
  8. Xinhua (2010-11-05). "Mascots, emblem for 2014 Incheon Asian Games unveiled". China Daily. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
  9. "Sapporo 2017 entry deadline approaches for NOCs". www.ocasia.org/. Olympic Council of Asia. 24 March 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  10. "Logo & Mascot 18th Asian Games 2018" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 October 2016.
  11. "Male robot triplets unveiled as Hangzhou Asian Games mascots". hangzhou2022.cn. Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee. 3 April 2020. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  12. Mascots for 3rd Asian Beach Games unveiled
  13. "Olympic Council of Asia : Photo Details". Archived from the original on 2016-02-03. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
  14. "Olympic Council of Asia : Photo Details". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  15. "Mascot, Bangkok 2009 - Hanuman, God King of the Apes". 2009-04-15. Archived from the original on 2016-09-18. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
  16. "Ashgabat 2017 unveil mascot with 200 days to go". insidethegames.biz. 2017-03-01. Retrieved 2017-03-05.
  17. "ลงตัวแล้ว ตรา-มาสคอต เอเชียนอินดอร์ฯ ชี้หากยังมีโควิดเลื่อนอีก" (in Thai). SMM Sport. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  18. "Mascot for 1st Asian Youth Games in Singapore named Frasia". Channel NewsAsia. April 15, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
  19. "Singapore Sports AYG 2009". Singapore Sports Council. May 16, 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-03-31. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  20. "Mascot for 2nd Asian Youth Games unveiled". JSCHINA. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
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