The Five Friendlies, the faces of the Beijing Olympics, are to
tour the world spreading friendship, peace and blessings.
The Olympic mascots' first stop will be the United States, where
the five Chinese cartoon figures, also known as Fuwa, will tour
football fields, performing fairy-tale dramas and playing with
local fans.
A ceremony launching the global trip was held in Beijing on
Monday evening. Over the next two years, the mascots will visit all
seven continents, said Wang Hui, vice director of the
Communications and Media Department of the Beijing Organizing
Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG).
Each Fuwa symbolizes a different blessing and will carry their
blessings to people around the world.
"Prosperity, happiness, passion, health and good luck will be
spread to every continent as the Fuwa carry an invitation to
Beijing 2008 to every part of the globe," said Wang.
An acrobatic and dramatic fairy tale was staged after the
ceremony. The drama told the story of how the Fuwa fought five
monsters in ancient times, bringing peace to the world.
The five cartoon Fuwa Beibei the Fish, Jingjing the Panda,
Huanhuan the Flame, Yingying the Tibetan Antelope and Nini the
Swallow use wisdom, courage and strength to beat the monsters one
by one in the story.
After their victory, Huanhuan becomes the Olympic Flame and all
five Fuwa become ambassadors of friendship and peace.
"The cartoon figures are clever, brave and full of love," said
10-year-old Huang Penghao after watching the drama.
"I hope the Five Friendlies can deliver a message for me when
they meet foreign children. I want to tell other children that
Beijing has many delicious foods and beautiful scenic spots."
(China Daily August 9, 2006)
