China dumps 'friendly' tag for Olympic mascots

0 Comments | AFP, October, 2006

BEIJING (AFP) — Beijing Olympic organizers have changed the English name of the mascots for the 2008 Games after people complained it was too hard to pronounce. The five mascot, which resemble cuddly teddy bears, were dubbed the 'Five Friendlies' in English when they were unveiled a year ago. But the name was too hard to pronounce and too easy to misunderstand, according to Xinhua news agency, citing a Beijing newspaper report Monday.

Beijing Games organizers told AFP that from now on the dolls would be known in English as "fuwa", a Chinese word that translates as blessed or happy children. The five dolls represented four of China's most popular animals -- the fish, the panda, the Tibetan antelope and the swallow -- as well as the Olympic flame. They were intended to...