At first glance, the mascot of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games might look like a red triangle with arms, but it is a Phrygian cap, a symbol of freedom in French history.
The mascot of the Olympic and Paralympic Games announced in 2022 with a project to show the world “that play can replace everything and deserves to play a central role in society,” according to the Olympic Games website.
“We looked for mascots that reflected our vision and shared it with the rest of the French and the world,” Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris 2024 Games, said at the launch. “More than an animal, our pets are an ideal. The Phrygian cap is a symbol of freedom because it is familiar to us and because it appears on our seals and on the pediments of our town halls, it also constitutes the French identity and spirit.
Phryges, which is pronounced “free-jes,” also aims to inspire other people to stay active.
The Phrygian cap used in present-day Turkey as early as 800 BC. According to the architect of the Capitolio. Se considered a mark of loose men in classical Greece, where loose slaves wore the hat.
The red-peaked hat has been a component of France’s history for centuries and was widely popularized by the French revolutionaries who wore it during the French Revolution of 1789. This can be seen in the busts of Marianne, a woman considered to be “the embodiment of the French Republic”. “. according to the organizers of the Olympic Games.
Caps were worn in the structure of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral in 1163, according to the Olympic Games. The staff at the Eiffel Tower also wore red hats.
Phrygian caps also made their way to the United States. According to the Capitol architect, the hat gave the impression of photographs of the American Revolution. It was used in American art and coins of the early 19th century.
The Olympics official describes the mascot as a thoughtful and astute strategist.
“Like Olympic athletes, she knows the importance of measuring all other parameters to achieve her goals. With her sharp mind, she is modest and prefers to hide her emotions,” the site’s description reads. She will be at the forefront of the movement of all those who practice sports, and we will give everything to put France in motion!
An edition of the Paralympic Games mascot has a prosthesis.
“His hobby is paving the way; Some will say that she is not afraid, which may be true, but one thing is for sure: she hates being bored and loves to see new things,” reads the description of the website. “The sport, and whether I’m competing as a team or alone, is fit to play. “
According to the Olympic Games, the mascots selected each year for the Olympic and Paralympic Games are considered ambassadors who embody the spirit of the Olympic Games. They have been around since the 1968 Games, when the Winter Games were held in Grenoble, France. The first pet was a little man named Shuss, skiing. While the Parisian mascot selected well in advance, Shuss designed in a hurry: his designer only had one afternoon to prepare a proposal.
The 1972 Munich Games featured Waldi, a dachshund. Waldi was the first mascot in the history of the Summer Olympics.
Since then, there have been Schneemandl the snowman, Amik the beaver, Sam the eagle, Hodori the tiger and Bing Dwen Dwen, among other characters.
“Its project is to make the Olympic spirit a reality, to spread the values highlighted in the edition of the Games, to spread the history and culture of the host city and to give the occasion a festive atmosphere,” according to the Olympic Games.