Z At the start of these winter games in northern Italy, it is advisable to take a closer look the two mascots Tina and Milo to throw. As the International Olympic Committee says, mascots have had the task of giving concrete form to the Olympic spirit since 1968. And this series of columns feels particularly committed to this spirit.
At the premiere in Grenoble, France, it was only a tolerable success. “Shuss,” as the new creation was called, had an oversized, round head and a very elongated, thin body without arms. The name and appearance quickly led to “Shuss” being publicly ridiculed as a “skiing sperm.” To be fair, it must be mentioned that in the IOC historiography this Shuss is still listed as an unofficial Olympic employee. First official and then quickly very The popular mascot is the dachshund Waldiwho came into the world in Munich in 1972. However, the “skiing sperm” can at least be described as its obstetrician.
Mascots came and went and, like Shuss, they were mostly read as male. The first mascot couple, Hidy and Howdy, appeared in Calgary in 1988. And since the IOC took up the cause of gender parity, the world of Olympic mascots has of course become significantly more female.
But whose spirit children are Tina and Milo? It’s not that easy to see the two stoats made of 100 percent polyester. Because the organizers of the Olympic Games are aware of this grievance, they have attributed character traits and résumés to both of them.
A rather immobile spirit
Tina, who is currently on duty for the Winter Games that are currently beginning, as we learn on the Olympic website, “loves art and music and believes in the power of beauty.” Her brother Milo, on the other hand, who weaved around at the Paralympic Winter Games and was born without a paw, has learned “to use his tail and turn his peculiarity into a real strength”.
The power of beauty on one side and the power of cock on the other. The Olympic spirit of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo initially leaves a not particularly mobile impression. But these stuffed animals also have to be sold as many as possible.
And they also have another task on their shoulders. “They represent a contemporary, lively and dynamic Italian spirit,” it also says on the Olympic website.
For once, that could be worded too modestly. It’s quite possible that Milo and Tina embody the zeitgeist. And as is well known, the Olympic spirit has been stalking him for a long time.