The first mascot officially designed for the Olympic games, “Waldi” was modeled after Cherie von Birkenhof, a long-haired Dachshund. The lovable mascot was produced in various forms like plush toys, stickers, posters and even buttons, but never envisioned as a creepy human sized version.
Those Loony Olympic Mascots
London's eerie choices for the 2012 games prompt questions about what makes a successful mascot. From the cute and cuddly to the creepy, absurd, and ethically questionable, a visual survey of past Olympic mascots.