Hidy and Howdy
Hidy and Howdy were the official mascots of the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada .
description
Hidy and Howdy are two polar bears , they refer to the north of Canada, where they appear in the wild. The two are (twin) siblings and the first Olympic couple mascot. They are dressed in traditional western style. The name "Hidy" is an extension of the greeting "Hi", "Howdy" is also a typical American greeting.
The mascot was designed by Sheila Scott, an artist from Calgary. The names of the bears are meant to reflect Canadian hospitality. They were selected from around 7,000 entries in a competition organized by Calgarys Zoo and won by seventeen-year-old student Kim Johnston.
presentation
The two bears first appeared in 1981 after the Calgary International Olympic Committee approved the 1988 Winter Games. Hidy and Howdy were introduced to the international public during the closing ceremony of the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo . In the years that followed, up to the 1988 Games, the mascots were presented at events around the world, including a Rose Parade in California and a Kodak Convention in Japan.
Others
The City of Calgary has used the two mascots on official “Welcome to Calgary” street signs since the Games. Until 2007 these were set up at the city limits. After being replaced with new designs, the signs with Hidy and Howdy came to Canada Olympic Park , where they have been on display in the Sports Hall of Fame ever since .
Hidy and Howdy also starred in Jon Turteltaub's comedy film Cool Runnings , which is about the Jamaican bobsleigh team during the Calgary Olympics.
Web links
- Calgary 1988 Mascots - Hidy and Howdy on the official website of the International Olympic Committee (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Who on earth are Hidy & Howdy and why should you care? Calgary Public Library, March 2, 2017, accessed February 22, 2018 .
- ^ A b Valery Fortney: Hidy and Howdy - Cheer Spirit of '88. In: Calgary Herald, January 29, 2013 edition. ( Press reader )
- ^ David Ebner: Goodbye, Hidy and Howdy. The Globe and Mail, May 9, 2007, accessed February 22, 2018 .