Design a mascot for London 2012

1:23pm Saturday 25th October 2008

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HAVE you got a bright idea and the creative flair to create a mascot for London 2012?

The country’s creative industry is competing to win the chance to design a mascot for the Games.

But why not send in your ideas for a London 2012 mascot to the News Shopper.

The Olympic and Paralympic Games will each have their own mascots which will help to set the tone of the Games, say organisers.

They will be appear as toys, on clothing, in film and animation, video games and in physical form.

And sales will provide an important source of the revenue needed to stage the Games.

London 2012 Commercial Director Chris Townsend said: “Those of us lucky enough to go to Beijing this summer saw first hand the magic of the mascots – whether it was the soft toy version, entertainment at a venue or simply photo opportunities at the airport."

He added: “Fun and games aside, the mascot programme will be a key component of our licensing plan and will be a strong revenue driver as we seek to raise the £2bn required to stage a Games in 2012.

Waldi the Daschund was the first ever Olympic mascot at the Munich 1972 Games.

This year's Beijing Games had five mascots - Beibei the fish, Jingjing the panda, Huanhuan the Olympic flame, Yingying the Tibetan antelope and Nini the swallow.

Agencies and consortia have until 21 November to register their concepts.

The ideas will be shortlisted in December and pitches from the designers will be heard early next year.

The winning agency or designer will be selected by summer 2009 and the mascots will be unveiled in the summer 2010.

Click here to email your ideas and designs for a mascot to the News Shopper. Or post your suggestions below.