In a surprise move, Beijing unveiled a set of five doll-like mascots for the 2008 Olympic Games last night, exactly 1,000 days before the event's opening ceremony.
The mascots embody the natural characteristics of four of China's most popular animals — the fish, the panda, the Tibetan antelope and the swallow — and the Olympic flame.
They were presented at a televised ceremony inside Beijing's Workers Gymnasium.
The selection marks the first time that more than three images will 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 group that designed the figures.
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 the Olympic flame, Yingying the Tibetan antelope and Nini 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 President Jacques Rogge sent a letter of congratulations to the Beijing organizing committee.
"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 will be extremely popular and will help spread Olympic messages throughout the world."
The unveiling of the Beijing Olympic mascots ended a year-long race among hundreds of candidates.
The country's western Qinghai Province was pushing the endangered Tibetan antelope.
Fujian Province lobbied for the South China Tiger. Gansu Province favored the mythical dragon, and Jiangsu Province promoted the legendary Monkey King.
Dozens of artists and designers took part in cutting the initial list of mascot entrants from 662 to 56, and finally to six, with the final choice selected by the Beijing organizing committee.
The IOC approved the choice in August.
The first mascot to appear at an Olympics was in the 1968 Winter Games in Grenoble, France. But Schuss the skier was not official.
The first official mascot was Waldi the dachshund, who appeared at the Munich Summer Games in 1972.
Mascots are the most marketable symbols in the Olympics business. The choice is important as sales of licensed products help organizers defray costs.