Rio 2016 Mascots
The mascot for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games is a bright yellow and cat-like cartoon creature, meant to represent a mix of all Brazilian animals. There is also a separate green leaf-haired Paralympic mascot, representing all of Brazil's plant species.They are said to have been born out of the joy generated when Rio was announced as the host of the Olympic Games.
The names were decided by an online poll. The choices were either Oba and Eba; Tiba Tuque and Esquindim; or Vinicius and Tom. The winning names were Vinicius and Tom.
opening ceremony in RioThe name Vinicius is from the poet and bossa nova composer Vinicius de Moraes. The Paralympic masoct Tom is named after the musician Tom Jobim (Antônio Carlos Jobim), a leader in the creation of the bossa nova style. Together, De Moraes and Jobim wrote the song The Girl from Ipanema, one of the most-played songs of all time.
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