With approximately 300 guests attending, the 2014 Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee (IAGOC) unveiled the Games mascots and emblem at Songdo Convensia on November 4.
The mascot design has been inspired by the fact that the harbour seals inhabit the waters of Incheon‘s Baengnyeong Island, which is in the northernmost location of the Republic of Korea, while traveling freely between the two Koreas.
"The mascots represent the idea of the harbor seals playing a role in promoting peace in Asia by contributing to easing the tension on the Korean peninsula and overcoming ideological and religious barriers in some troubled parts of the world,” said Dr Lee Yun-taek, President of the IAGOC.
The characters have been named Vichuon, Barame and Chumuro after the Games Main Stadium design motifs of light, wind and dance.
The Games emblem was also unveiled on the day.
The emblem design takes the shape of the letter ’A‘ (for Asia) to project the image of Asians holding each other’s hand and soaring together with their wings spread wide. The concept of soaring together towards a bright sun, a symbol of the OCA and Asiad, implies the OCA motto of “Ever Onward” for a bright future.
The colors of the emblem, blue and green, each symbolize the international marine city of Incheon and a bright future and hope for Asia.
Incheon 2014 organizers are now ready to unveil the mascots and emblem and promote the Incheon Asian Games on the international stage, beginning at the 16th Asian Games set to open in Guangzhou, China, on November 12.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com