2010 Olympic mascot "Mukmuk"

[Dave Robertson]

Here's a press release I found that introduces a new 2010 Olympic mascot
with the Chinook Jargon name "Mukmuk" --  Dave R



Attention News Editors:
Vancouver 2010 Winter Games mascots celebrate first birthday with parties at
Hbc stores

    <<
    Sidekick Mukmuk, the Vancouver Island marmot, stars in his own line of
    merchandise
    >>

    VANCOUVER, Nov. 27 /CNW/ - Put your party hats on and make room for some
cake; today marks the first birthday of Miga, Quatchi and Sumi, the mascots
for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. And there's even
more reason to celebrate because the mascots' cyber-sidekick Mukmuk is now
featured in his own line of playful merchandise! In addition, starting today,
a new animated video about Mukmuk that allows his fans to get to know him
better will be available at www.vancouver2010.com/mascots, as well as a new
interactive game featuring a flying Sumi.
    Mukmuk, a small and friendly Vancouver Island marmot, is now a plush toy
and featured on pins, T-shirts, playing cards, travel pillows and even a berry
orange and blue toque just like the one he sports online at
www.vancouver2010.com. Special edition box sets of Mukmuk with Miga, Quatchi
and Sumi are now available. Mascot merchandise, including a variety of new
Mukmuk merchandise, is available at Hbc stores, including The Bay and Zellers,
across Canada, starting today at 9:30 a.m. PST. It's also for sale at Olympic
stores, at www.vancouver2010.com and YVR, the Vancouver International Airport.
    Best known for his loud cheers during games and races, as well as his
unwavering support for his mascot buddies, Mukmuk entered the international
spotlight one year ago when Miga, Quatchi and Sumi were introduced and he was
named the first-ever Olympic and Paralympic sidekick. While the mascots travel
across the country greeting people in person, until now Mukmuk existed in the
vast world of cyberspace and in print where he interacts with the public
through online games for the 2010 Winter Games as the driver of an ice
resurfacer, hockey referee and even a curling skip. He has also acted as
postmaster for public questions sent in about the Games.
    "Since their introduction one year ago Miga, Sumi and Quatchi have been
welcomed into the homes of thousands of Olympic fans. With the support of
their friend Mukmuk, the mascots have worked tirelessly to spread a message of
goodwill on behalf of Vancouver 2010," said Dennis Kim, director of licensing
and merchandising of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic
and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). "Mukmuk himself has become incredibly
popular - in fact he's developed a great fan base, so in response, we're
pleased to offer this line of Mukmuk products to complement the popular mascot
merchandise available."
    Today, Miga, Quatchi and Sumi will be handing out special invitations at
Hbc's flagship downtown Vancouver store welcoming families to their birthday
party on Saturday, November 29. Parties will be held on Saturday at five Hbc
stores in British Columbia's Lower Mainland. The mascot trio will be on hand
to visit with youngsters, pose for photos and hand out slices of their special
birthday cake. The store locations are:

    <<
    -   The Bay Park Royal (West Vancouver) from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
    -   The Bay Downtown (Vancouver) from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
    -   The Bay Metrotown (Burnaby) from 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
    -   The Bay Oakridge (Vancouver) from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
    -   The Bay Richmond (Richmond) from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

    Background
    ----------
    >>

    Mukmuk gets his name from the word 'muckamuck', Chinook jargon for food,
because he loves to eat. He is enamoured with all the different types of food
found in British Columbia, and is particularly fond of berries and mountain
flowers. The Vancouver Island marmot is a species unique to the mountains of
Vancouver Island.
    A year ago more than 800 schoolchildren witnessed the mascot trio emerge
from the mists of a magical West Coast setting of gigantic trees, soaring
mountains and majestic ocean. Since then, the mascots have travelled across
the country making friends and lighting up the faces of tens of thousands of
youngsters and grownups alike at almost 300 public appearances in schools,
hospitals and community events. They even paid a visit south of the border
where they delighted crowds in Los Angeles and took part in an ice show during
the opening days of the Beijing 2008 Summer Games. Highlighting their love of
winter sports and the great outdoors, they have skated at Vancouver's GM
Place, travelled by dogsled in Calgary and even snow tubed at the Quebec
Winter Carnival, and most recently-cross country skied at the opening of
Whistler Olympic Park in BC's Callaghan Valley.
    The mascot microsite at vancouver2010.com has been immensely popular in
its first 12 months. Its success includes more than 1.8 million page views,
over 336,300 views of the animated mascot video page, more than 92,550 plays
of the Operation Recycle game, and well over 500,000 page views of the
mascots' profiles.
    The mascots, designed for VANOC by Vancouver-based Meomi Design, are a
key component of the Games identity and a playful way to engage a young
audience, and, at the same time, increase understanding of the Olympic and
Paralympic Winter Games.

    About VANOC

    VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging
of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The
2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from
February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic
Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. Visit vancouver2010.com for further
details on programs and schedules.




For further information: Media Contacts: Jason Macnaughton, Vancouver
2010, (604) 403-2734, jason_macnaughton at vancouver2010.com


VANCOUVER ORGANIZING COMMITTEE FOR THE 2010 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC WINTER GAMES

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