Look no further for the cutest faces in the sports industry. The 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games are only a few years away, but Beijing is already prepping for the events by releasing their new mascots. Your hosts will be Big Dwen Dwen the Panda and Shuey Rhon Rhon the lantern child.
In Chinese, “bing” means ice and “dwen dwen” means lively. Thus, the panda is a perfect choice. He is wearing a beautiful and sporty helmet to make him appear more athletic. You might also think he looks like an astronaut, purposefully meant to represent “embracing new technologies for a future with infinite possibilities.”
Shuey Rhon Rhon means warmth, friendship, perseverance, and courage. Shuey is the mascot for the Paralympics and was chosen to be modeled after a Chinese lantern. This is significant as the event takes place 3 days after Chinese New Year when people hang these lanterns in celebration.
“The mascot incorporates the best elements and characteristics of China and the Chinese people,” said IOC President Thomas Bach in a statement, “What I can say already is that it will be a wonderful ambassador for China and the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.”