Summer Olympics Mascots Through the Years (1972-2012)

Wenlock and Mandeville, 2012 London Summer Olympics Mascots

Those cycloptic 2012 Summer Olympics mascots, Wenlock and Mandeville, are weird.

But London shouldn’t feel so bad, most Olympics mascots just are.

Here are all the official Summer Olympics mascots since the first, Waldi the dachshund, of those ill-fated 1972 Games.

Click on the links below to learn more about each of the mascots,  including their design, selection and symbolic meanings.

Follow me on Twitter @VinGetz.

2012 London Summer Olympics Mascots

Wenlock and Mandeville (Drops of Steel)

2012 London Summer Olympics Mascots Wenlock and Mandeville

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2008 Beijing Summer Olympics Mascots

Fuwa (Good Luck Dolls): Beibei (Fish), Jingjing (Panda), Huanhuan (Olympic Flame), Yingying (Tibetan Antelope) and Nini (Swallow)

2008 Beijing Summer Olympics Mascots, Fuwa: Beibei, Jingjing, Huanhuan, Yingying, and Nini

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2004 Athens Summer Olympics Mascots

Daidala (Ancient Greek Sculptures as Children): Athena and Phevos (Sister and Brother)

2004 Athens Summer Olympics Mascots Athena and Phevos

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2000 Sydney Summer Olympics Mascots

Syd (Platypus), Millie (Echidna) and Olly (Kookaburra)

2000 Sydney Summer Olympics Mascots Syd, Millie and Olly

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1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics Mascot

Whatizit or Izzy (Digital Cartoon Character)

1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics Mascot Izzy

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1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics Mascot

Cobi (Catalan Sheepdog)

1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics Mascot Cobi

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1988 Seoul Summer Olympics Mascots

Hodori and Hosuni (Tiger Cubs)

1988 Seoul Summer Olympics Mascots Hodori and Hosuni

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1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics Mascot

Sam (Bald Eagle)

1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics Mascot Sam

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1980 Moscow Summer Olympics Mascot

Misha (Bear Cub)

1980 Moscow Summer Olympics Mascot Misha

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1976 Montreal Summer Olympics Mascot

Amik (Beaver)

1976 Montreal Summer Olympics Mascot Amik

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1972 Munich Summer Olympics Mascot

Waldi (Dachshund)

1972 Munich Summer Olympics Mascot Waldi

Photos: wenlock-mandeville.com /  guestofaguest.com / torchrelay.beijing2008.cn / sportige.com / telegraph.co.uk / washingtonpost.com /olympics.time.com / washingtonpost.com / telegraph.co.uk / englishrussia.com / canadiandesignresource.ca / p-and-w.blogspot.com