The First Official Olympic Mascot Was a Beloved Breed
November 21, 2014 National Purebred Dog Day® In 1972, Munich’s Summer Games saw the first ever inclusion of an official Olympic mascot in the form of “Waldi,” a Dachshund selected for attributes described as required for Olympic athletes: Resistance, tenacity and agility. “Waldi” was based on Cherie von Birkenhof, a real long-haired Dachshund that Munich Games Organizing Committee President, Willi Daume, had given to Félix Lévitan, the International Sports Press Association President in 1970. “Cherie,” was the model for Waldi’s creator, German designer, Otl Aicher (who also participated in the logo design for German airline, Lufthansa). According to the book, The Olympic Marathon, the 1972 Olympic marathon route corresponded to the shape of the dog-mascot. The head of the dog faced west, with athletes running counter-clockwise starting at the back of the dog’s neck and continuing around the ears. “Waldi’s” mouth was represented by the path going through Nymphenburg Park, its front feet were represented by the run though the Hirschgarten. The belly was the main [keep reading...]
