MOSCOW (AP) — Sochi’s mascots for the 2014 Winter Olympics are a squeaky-voiced figure skating bunny, a roly-poly polar bear and a cool-guy snowboard leopard.
The unusual decision to have three mascots was announced by Sochi organizing committee head Dmitry Chernyshenko on Saturday at the end of a nationally televised show. Viewers could vote by phone for their favorites among nine candidates.
Originally there were 10 candidates, including Ded Moroz, the Russian equivalent of Santa Claus. Reportedly the early favorite, he was pulled from the competition after organizers realized mascots become the intellectual property of the International Olympic Committee.
