The design process for the mascots began in September 1997, and after prototypes were created, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved the mascots in December 1998.[1] The Salt Lake Organizing Committee (SLOC) worked with Landor Associates of San Francisco, California, and Publicis to design and market the mascots. The original illustrator of the mascots was Steve Small, known for his work in Rugrats and Disney's Hercules.[2] For the 2002 Winter Paralympic Games, SLOC subsequently requested Small, Landor and Publicis for the creation of a new mascot along the creative lines of Powder, Copper and Coal. They created "Otto", an otter that is to convey the agility and vitality of the athletes.[3]
Unveiling
All three mascots were publicly unveiled during a celebration on May 15, 1999, at the Triad Center in downtown Salt Lake City. This celebration was hosted by Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi and also celebrated 1,000 remaining days until the start of the 2002 games.[4] The mascots were unveiled during the ceremony as actor and American Indian Billy Daydodge narrated the mascots' stories (which are based on legends from American Indian traditions).[2]
On September 25, 1999, the names of the mascots were announced during a BYU Football game, in Provo, Utah (prior to this only the type of animals and their legends were known). Utah schoolchildren had originally suggested names for the mascots, and the top picks were then publicly voted on; the first in Olympic history.[5]
Mascots
Costumes of the Olympic mascots in 2002
The mascots are indigenous animals of the Western U.S., and are named after natural resources (except for Otto) which have long been important to Utah's economy, survival, and culture. All four animals are major characters in the legends of local American Indians, and each mascot (except for Otto) wears a charm around its neck with an original Anasazi or Fremont-style petroglyph to remind them of their heritage.[5][6][7]
Powder is a snowshoe hare who is an elegant, sleek competitor with a flare for fun in an exciteful way. She came from Fishlake National Forest. Quick and elusive, Powder can ski and skate circles around her competition. Her large, furry feet make her especially agile on snow and ice, while her lean, supple body is built for endurance and speed. She is surprisingly strong and eager to jump and spin while twirling her ears above her head. When Powder really flies, her long, sleek ears stream out like ribbons from behind her whiskers. Try as they may, the other mascots just can't catch their speedy little friend. She represents "Faster" of the Olympic motto.[6] She loves to do skiing and figure skating.
The sun was too close to the earth and was burning it. The hare (Powder's ancestor) ran to the top of a mountain, and shot her arrow into the sun. This caused it to drop lower in the sky, cooling the earth. Her favorite color is purple/blue shade as seen on her gloves and badge. She tends to love ice cream especially those around the world. She is one of the three Olympic mascots, one of the four mascots of Salt Lake City 2002 and is also the only female of the four mascots of Salt Lake City 2002.
Copper is a coyote who is a flashy, youthful athlete who revels in the spotlight. Colorful and fearless, Copper is a confident competitor. He comes from Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Whether in the halfpipe or on the ice, his flamboyant, bold style always pleases the crowd. Far from shy in front of a camera, this coyote's charisma makes him the media darling of the mascot trio. Copper is more than just snow. His long, slender legs are surprisingly powerful, giving him the strength to spin, flip and sprint. He cheers the loudest and reaches the highest peaks of all the mascots. He loves to do ice hockey and curling.
The earth froze and turned dark, the coyote (Copper's ancestor) climbed to the highest mountaintop and stole a flame from the fire people. He returned and brought warmth and light to the people. Because of the way his ancestor did, Copper represents Higher from the Olympic motto. His favorite color is turquoise green as seen on his gloves and badge. He tends to love Jell-O. He is one of the three Olympic mascots and one of the four mascots of Salt Lake City 2002.
His name comes from the mineral of the same name.
Coal
Coal is one of the three Olympic mascots. He is an American black bear who is a powerful and courageous racer, he is as passionate about sport as he is about the environment due to him coming from the Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Coal is a force on both the slopes and the ice. His thick, muscular frame and short, sturdy legs give him a perfect build for either the racecourse or the speed skating oval. Surely no puck has ever slipped by this goalie's mitts. Coal is dedicated to more than just sports. He is a tireless protector of his smaller mascot friends as well as the environment in which they live. He loves to do hockey and curling as seen on his plush toys.
Indigenous people respected and revered bears. There were many mysteries surrounding bear hibernation and as a result, the animals were often viewed as symbols of immortality. Because bears are capable of standing on their hind legs, Native Americans sometimes referred to them as cousins. One popular legend is that a group of hunters who were never able to kill a mighty bear (Coal's ancestor). Today the sons of these hunters still chase the bear across the night sky as constellations. Because of his irreversible and undoubted strength, Coal represents Stronger[6] from the Olympic motto. His favorite color is red as seen on his badge and gloves. He tends to love French fries or any other potato dishes.
His name comes from the mineral of the same name.
Otto
Otto is an friendly sea otter. He is an only pup and lives with his parents in the at Wasatch Mountains. Otto loves to eat fish and sometimes uses tools to help him get to his meals. His best friends are children and Chris Waddell. He loves to do para-alpine skiing and ice sledge hockey.
Native Americans revered otters as the most powerful of animals. The otter is a giver of great fortunes and a fast swimmer, though in some stories a bit of a show-off.[9][10] As he is the only Paralympic mascot of the four mascots of Salt Lake City 2002, Otto represents Mind, Body, Spirit (the Paralympic motto).[7] His favorite colors are red, green and blue: the colors of the Paralympics. He tends to love fish based dishes.
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games and commonly known as Salt Lake 2002, were an international winter multi-sport event that was held from February 8 to 24, 2002, in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States.
The 2002 Winter Paralympics, the eighth Paralympic Winter Games, were held in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, from 7 to 16 March 2002. A total of 416 athletes from 36 nations participated. They were the first Winter Paralympics in the American continent. These were the first Paralympic Winter Games for Andorra, Chile, China, Croatia, Greece, and Hungary. Ragnhild Myklebust of Norway won five gold medals in skiing and biathlon, becoming the most successful Winter Paralympic athlete of all time with 22 medals, 17 of them gold.
A powder is a collection of very fine particles that may flow freely when shaken or tilted.
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The Maverik Center, originally known as the E Center, is a 12,600-seat multi-purpose indoor arena located in West Valley City, Utah, United States. Construction on the arena started in 1996 and was completed in time to hold its first event on September 22, 1997. The arena is owned by West Valley City, and managed by Centennial Management Group. During the 2002 Winter Olympics it served as the main venue for the ice hockey events, and as the venue for ice sledge hockey during the 2002 Winter Paralympics. Today the arena is home to the Utah Grizzlies along with the Salt Lake City Stars, and it is also a major venue in the area for numerous concerts and live touring productions.
Peaks Ice Arena is an indoor ice hockey and figure skating arena in Provo, Utah, located 43 miles (69 km) south of Salt Lake City. Along with the Maverik Center in West Valley City, it was built as an ice hockey and figure skating practice venue for the 2002 Winter Olympics, roles it is expected to reprise for the 2034 Winter Olympics. It currently serves as the home of the Utah Valley University men’s ice hockey team, Peaks Youth Hockey Association, several high school teams, the Peaks Figure Skating Club, and a Learn-to-Skate USA program for beginning skaters of all ages.
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The Utah Olympic Oval is an indoor speed skating oval located 14 miles (23 km) southwest of Salt Lake City, in Kearns, Utah. The Oval was built for the 2002 Winter Olympics and it hosted the long-track speed skating events for the 2002 games, a role it is expected reprise for the 2034 Winter Olympics.
The Paralympic symbols are the icons, flags, and symbols used by the International Paralympic Committee to promote the Paralympic Games.
The Utah Olympic Park is a winter sports park built for the 2002 Winter Olympics, and is located in Summit County northwest of Park City, Utah, United States. During the 2002 games the park hosted the bobsleigh, skeleton, luge, ski jumping, and Nordic combined events. It still serves a training center for Olympic and development level athletes.
The Utah Olympic Park Track is a bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track in the United States, located in the Utah Olympic Park near Park City, Utah. During the 2002 Winter Olympics in nearby Salt Lake City, the track hosted the bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton events, and is expected to reprise these roles for the 2034 Winter Olympics. Today the track still serves as a training center for Olympic and development level athletes and hosts numerous local and international competitions. It is one of two national tracks; the other is at Mt. Van Hoevenberg near Lake Placid, New York.
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The Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games of 2002 (SLOC) was the organization responsible for the 2002 Winter Olympics and 2002 Winter Paralympics in Salt Lake City, USA. The SLOC secured their bid for the 2002 Olympic Games in 1995. After the SLOC was exposed to be in disarray in the ensuing years, Mitt Romney was hired in 1999 to turn around the failing organization. Under Romney's leadership, the SLOC ended up hosting a successful Olympic games with financial surpluses.
The 2002 Winter Olympic Games were held in and around Salt Lake City, United States from February 8 to 24, 2002, and the Paralympics from March 7 to 16, 2002. The sporting events were held in ten competitive venues, while non-competitive events, such as the opening ceremony, were held in six other venues. Three venues were also created for training purposes. All Olympic venues were scattered throughout Northern Utah and the Wasatch Front.
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