The Sochi 2014 mascot can be an animal, human figure or any animate or inanimate object that symbolizes Russian culture, represents the Olympic values

(Kazan, September 2, Tatar-Inform). The Olympic Committee of Russia has launched a contest for the future mascot of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games, Russia Today website reports.

All citizens of Russia are invited to send in their drafts of a mascot that will represent the first-ever Winter Olympic Games to be hosted by Russia, the Sochi 2014 organizing committee announced.

The worldwide Olympic symbols are the Olympic fire and the five Olympic rings. However, since 1968 it’s been tradition for each country that hosts the Games to design an Olympic mascot, most usually portraying a local animal, such as the American bald eagle of 1984 or the Canadian polar bears of 1988.

The Sochi 2014 mascot can be an animal, human figure or basically any animate or inanimate object that symbolizes Russian culture, represents the Olympic values and evokes positive emotions.

The contest starts September 1 and ends December 5; a jury will select the winner by early February.

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