Phrygian caps will be the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games mascots as organizers look to celebrate the French revolution’s spirit.

“‘Phryges’ aim to show that sport can change everything, and that it deserves to have a prominent place in our society,” Paris 2024 brand director Julie Matikhine said Monday.

The Phrygian caps were favored over animals, who have mostly been the first choice in other Olympics — such as the “Bing Dwen Dwen” panda at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing this year.

It’s a symbol of revolution and freedom, of striving. It’s an icon seen over centuries, from the Notre Dame Cathedral to the Eiffel Tower.

More specifically, it’s the red bonnet famously worn by Marianne, the artistic personification of the free French republic.

“The mascot must embody the French spirit... It’s an ideal, a kind of conviction that carries the values of our country, and which has been built up over time, over history.”

The red Phrygian caps come in two versions — the Olympic and the Paralympic one — with a blade leg.

Speaking at the unveiling of the mascots in Saint-Denis on Monday, Paris 2024 president Tony Estanguet said it was important to “promote inclusion.”

The official, shared motto of the two mascots is “Alone we go faster, but together we go further.”

The Olympic Phryge is described as “a tactician with a calculating brain,” while its Paralympic partner is “spontaneous and full of energy and enthusiasm.”

As happens when a national spirit combines with the Olympic spirit, the mascots are also being packaged into nearly 10,000 types of products, from plush toys to hoodies, electronics and luggage.

Olympic mascots date back to the 1968 winter Olympics in Grenoble, when “Schuss” represented the Games. “Waldi” the dachshund dog then followed suit for the 1972 Munich summer Games.

The Olympics are now less than two years away; set to start on July 26 and finish on Aug. 11, while the Paralympics will run from Aug. 28 until Sept. 8.

Words to Learn 相关词汇

【显著的】xiǎnzhù de prominent widely and popularly known

【信念】xìnniàn conviction a strong persuasion or belief

2024巴黎奥运会和残奥会的吉祥物将是弗里吉亚帽，主办方希望借此颂扬法国的革命精神。

巴黎奥运品牌设计总监朱莉•马斯基14日表示：“‘弗里热’象征着体育可以改变一切，它理应在我们的社会中占有重要地位。”

在此前多届奥运会上，动物是吉祥物的首选，例如，2022北京冬奥会吉祥物“冰墩墩”就是大熊猫。而比起动物，法国更偏爱弗里吉亚帽。

弗里吉亚帽是革命、自由、奋斗的象征。几个世纪以来，在巴黎圣母院大教堂、埃菲尔铁塔，都能看到这顶标志性的帽子。

更具体地说，这顶弗里吉亚帽是玛丽安娜头顶标志性的红色帽子。玛丽安娜是自由的法兰西共和国的象征。

“吉祥物必须体现法国精神……它是一种理想，一种信念，承载着法国随着时间历史的推移建立起来的价值观。”

红色的弗里吉亚帽有奥运会和残奥会两种版本，残奥会版“弗里热”一条腿戴着“刀锋”假肢。

在周一巴黎大区圣丹尼斯小镇举行的吉祥物揭幕仪式上2024年巴黎奥组委主席托尼•埃斯坦盖说“体育的包容精神很重要”。他说，这两个吉祥物的口号是“也许独自前行我们走得更快，但结伴同行我们能抵达更远的终点”。

奥运版“弗里热”被描述为“头脑敏锐的策略家”，残奥会版“弗里热”则是“积极主动，有旺盛的精力和热情”。

民族精神与奥林匹克精神相结合的同时，吉祥物也被包装成近万种产品，包括毛绒玩具、连帽衫、电子产品和行李箱等。奥运吉祥物的传统源自1968年法国格勒诺布尔的冬奥会，滑雪小人舒斯成为第一个奥运吉祥物。其后的1972年的慕尼黑夏季奥运会正式发布了吉祥物德国猎犬瓦尔迪。

距下一届奥运会开幕还有不到两年时间；奥运会将在7月26日至8月11日期间举行，残奥会将于8月28日至9月8日间举行。

(chinadaily.com.cn)