In a departure from the cuddly and lovable animal mascots of past Olympics, the Paris 2024 Olympics have drawn inspiration from a significant symbol of French history: the Phrygian cap, also known as the liberty cap. (pronounced fri-jee-uhs). These mascots are cartoon representations of the Phrygian cap, a red hat that became an emblem of freedom during the French Revolution. The choice to use this symbol aligns with the values of liberty and spirit that the cap embodies in French culture.
The Phryges come in the national colors of France—red, white, and blue—and feature a gold Paris 2024 logo on their chests. Their eyes, crafted from a knot of ribbons known as the "cockade of France," add a touch of national ornamentation. This design choice ties them firmly to their French heritage.
In explaining the choice of mascots, Paris 2024 president Tony Estanguet said, "We chose an ideal rather than an animal. The Phrygian cap is a very strong symbol for the French Republic, representing freedom and identity. It’s a well-known object in France that will represent mascots all across the world. The fact that the Paralympics mascot has a visible disability also sends a strong message to promote inclusion."
The Phryges have distinct personalities. According to the International Paralympic Committee, the Paralympic Phryge is a lively, spontaneous character who loves to party and isn’t afraid of new experiences. On the other hand, the Olympic Phryge is a thoughtful tactician and mathematician who carefully plans everything.
France has a proud history of creating Olympic mascots, starting with Shuss, the skiing man from the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble. Over the years, Olympic mascots have included a variety of animals and imaginative characters, with the most recent being Bing Dwen Dwen, the panda representing the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
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Photo: Getty