Quatchi, Miga and Sumi. These are the names of the three critters who will meet and greet athletes, visitors, and fans in Vancouver and Whistler for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Each of the creatures is distinct and special – both in personality and in appearance. One is big, gentle and shy . . . one is small, mischievous and outgoing . . . and one is a natural-born leader with a passion for protecting the environment. All three are mythical creatures with roots in local legend. One is a sasquatch. One is a sea-bear. And one is an animal guardian spirit. They are all, to say the least, unique.

There was a method to the creative madness that spawned such imaginative critters. “We wanted mascots that could achieve a great deal,” said John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC), who underscored, “They had to appeal to children from all over the world, they needed to represent the people, geography, and spirit of British Columbia and Canada, and they had to personify the values and essence of the 2010 Winter Games . . . . In short, they needed to be many things all at once.” We think they are.

The first step was a call for designers. A total of 177 professionals from around the world (including Canada, Australia, Austria, Brazil, France, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States) expressed their interest in submitting a proposal, including credentials and a portfolio of previous work. Five were invited to Vancouver to meet the VANOC team to present their creative abilities and credentials. Eventually, one designer’s concepts were selected – to become the Vancouver 2010 mascots.

“When we met Meomi Design’s Vicki Wong, and saw the portfolios of her and her partner, Michael Murphy, I think we all felt they were born for this project,” said VANOC Brand & Creative Services director Ali Gardiner. “Not only is her work warm, endearing and imaginative, but she’s a very proud Vancouverite and Canadian, and was excited to share our culture and environment with the world through these Vancouver 2010 mascots. Vicki also understood immediately how the mascots could communicate Olympic and Paralympic ideals and values to children, and get them engaged in our Games.”

Following conceptual development, top secret research and focus testing, and numerous meetings for review and approvals, under security arrangements that would make even James Bond blush, the final three mascots were selected – two for the Olympic Games, and one for the Paralympic Games.

A fourth character was selected as a ‘mascot sidekick.’ “We never intended to have a sidekick,” said Gardiner, “but Mukmuk was so cute and such a perfect friend to the other characters that we had to keep him!” So history was made – the Vancouver Games is the first to have an official mascot sidekick.

Now the Vancouver 2010 team is preparing for perhaps the most exciting part of the mascot process – sharing them with the world. “I’m very pleased with the mascots, and I do love them, but it’s a lot like being a parent and watching your kids go off to school . . . you hope desperately that everyone else will love them, too,” said Leo Obstbaum, VANOC’s director of design.

The mascots have now been revealed to the public and the world. A special theatrical event was held for 800 schoolchildren in the nearby city of Surrey, British Columbia, and a global audience of thousands have met the mascots ‘virtually’ through the Vancouver 2010 website, vancouver2010.com.

“Embracing the power and potential of the internet to extend the Vancouver 2010 experience to the rest of Canada and the world is a key goal of ours,” said Furlong. “We hope this initiative will make the mascots immediately accessible to children and adults in all corners of the world.” The mascot microsite features an animated video of the mascot story, mascot character profiles, a personality quiz, an online game, e-cards and more.

“The mascot launch is a much-anticipated celebration leading up to the Games. I believe the mascots will become cherished icons – especially for children – and symbols of our Games, our country and our moment on the world stage,” concluded Furlong.

And so begins the story of Quatchi, Miga, Sumi … and a sidekick named Mukmuk.