Beijing Games Mascots Coming Under Criticism

You know the Olympic hype is starting to propel out of control when the coverage turns to the mascots. Like some of the previous incarnations -- notably Atlanta’s infamous Izzy and Barcelona’s Cobi -- a WALL STREET JOURNAL cover story notes that the Beijing Games mascots, known as the Fuwa, are not “universally liked." And despite an expected major merchandising push, the Fuwa most recently have been "beset by an online rumor that associates each one with a recent Chinese national disaster” and some Chinese "have lately taken to calling them Wuwa, Chinese for 'witch dolls.’” Not exactly the furry and cuddly image intended. In other news, the pressure grows on USA Basketball to deliver the Gold from Beijing; the most buzzed-about sponsor activation revolves around social networking; and SI rolls out its Beijing preview with Michael Phelps on the cover.

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