In preparation for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, three mythical mascots are introduced to the public.

Contrary to a feedback by a marketing expert, these mascots are not Pokemon modern. Instead, they are all inspired and heavily influenced by local Aboriginal mythological creatures, British Columbian and Canadian culture and wildlife.

Who are these guys?

1. Sumi – a Thunderbird and animal guardian spirit with passion for saving the environment.
2. Quatchi – a young and gentle Sasquatch with blue earmuffs and brown beard.
3. Miga - a part sea bear and part killer whale inspired by the First Nations’ legends of the Pacific Northwest.

Sumi and Quatchi represent the Olympics logo while Miga is the mascot for Paralympics. All mascots are designed by Vancouver-based Mimeo Design.

While these cute and cuddly mascots are a hit with the many children, criticisms are also unavoidable. Some of the harsh comments about these mascots are Pacman-like, regionally irrelevant, goofy Japanese-looking cartoon characters and don’t look Canadian at all, hideous mutants, and do not represent the Olympic spirit.

Others simply felt the Olympic committee should have used the traditional Canadian symbols like the Maple leaf, a moose, a beaver, or a hockey puck so it is more relevant to the general culture.