Athletes participating in the Beijing Winter Olympics took a group photo with the "ice pier" in the awards square on February 14. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ding Ting
An ice pier photographed at the commemorative ceremony at the Beijing Winter Olympics on February 16. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xue Yubin
Inside and outside the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the mascot of this Winter Olympics, the "ice pier", is on fire: there are long queues outside the official licensed stores, and the major e-commerce platforms are sold out of stock. Foreign media have reported on this, saying that the "ice pier" is very popular.
Cute image, become the "top stream"
"30 days. This is the delivery time set by the official store of the Winter Olympics. It takes so many days for people to receive goods related to the Beijing Winter Olympics mascot 'Ice Pier' at home. Effie published an observation report titled "'Ice Pier': Beijing Winter Olympic Mascots In China Set Off a Rush to Buy", saying that on the e-commerce platform, each customer can only book up to two "ice pier" goods. Collectors have realized that their chances of hoarding such a sought-after mascot product are limited, but some are still willing to queue for hours to own it. Some people who can't buy an "ice pier" instead choose to paint a portrait of it or make it their own way, then share their work on social media and accept various comments from people.
According to the website of the French newspaper "Liberation", to accurately say the name of the "ice pier", a little pronunciation skill is required. As the mascot of the Beijing Winter Olympics, the "Ice Pier" has been a great success. Although most people can't come to the stadium to watch the game, Chinese doesn't hesitate to spend money on Winter Olympic peripherals. Among the 16 categories and more than 5,000 licensed goods in the Winter Olympic Games, many of the goods have the image of "ice piers" on them.
USA Today reported that since the official opening of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing on February 4, toys, stickers, key chains, porcelain and other trinkets related to the "ice pier" have been sold out. Images of "ice piers" continue to appear on social media, ranging from homemade "ice pier" cakes to digital animations. To meet strong consumer demand, factories that produce Winter Olympic-themed licensed goods have had to increase production as quickly as possible.
CNN reported that the "ice pier" has become a favorite of Winter Olympic fans. From dancing in the stands to appearing on signs, or waving flags from spectators and athletes, the "ice piers" in every corner of the Beijing Winter Olympic venues will trigger enthusiastic cheers. When The Olympics win medals, they are also awarded the golden version of the "Ice Pier".
Russia's Channel One website reported that the ice pier has become the "top traffic" for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Because the champion and runner-up can also get a limited edition "Golden Pier" while winning a medal, bringing home a small "Ice Pier" is the goal of every Winter Olympic participant.
After the "ice pier" swept the world, its memes were also sought after by a large number of netizens on overseas social media. According to the Website of Japanese Television, many foreign netizens found that on social media Twitter, when entering the Chinese characters related to "ice pier", the matching emoji will quickly pop up. This phenomenon has become a hot topic on social media Twitter. Many Japanese netizens commented, "Entering Japanese is not enough... What a pity!""' The emoji 'ice pier is so cute' and so on, expressing their love for the "ice pier".
Conform to the fashion, the demand is strong
"Le d'état de France" reported that even Cao Xue, head of the design team of the "Ice Pier", was unexpected about the explosion of the "Ice Pier".
What is the secret of the countless fans of the "ice pier"?
Efe reported that the opening of the Winter Olympics marked the beginning of consumer enthusiasm for "ice piers". In addition to its cute image design, it also has great commemorative value. Zhang Jie, a teacher at the Beijing Film Academy, said: "Beijing has become the first city to host the Summer Olympic Games and the Winter Olympic Games, so the mascot of the Winter Olympics has great commemorative significance. ”
The website of the French newspaper "Liberation" reported that the success of the "ice pier" is the result of the enthusiasm of the Chinese for ice and snow sports. So it's no surprise that panda dolls in skates or skis are selling well.
Bloomberg published an article in the United States that the dance performance of "Ice Pier" at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics on February 4 and the memes stuck by the door made its popularity soar on social media.
Canada's National Mail reported that one of the reasons why Chinese people rushed to buy is that they want to feel and participate in this international event by buying souvenirs.
Japan's Yahoo News Network reported that the little-known "ice pier" before the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics became popular in an instant after the opening ceremony. A few days ago, a video of Japanese anchor Yoshito Tsujioka enthusiastically introducing the "ice pier" in the Japanese TV program became popular in China, triggering a rush to buy the "ice pier".
"Not only the publicity of Tsujioka anchors, there are other factors that make 'Ice Pier' popular." The ice pier itself is quite cute and can be regarded as a very designed mascot. Japan's Yahoo News Network reported that the popularity of "ice piers" also conforms to the current "national tide" fashion set off by Young Chinese people. In many fields such as clothing and cosmetics, a large number of high-quality Chinese local brands have emerged and quickly seized the market. For example, in terms of animation, high-quality Chinese works are now emerging in an endless stream, which can be seen from the popularity of Chinese animation in the Japanese market. "Made in China" is no longer the same as in the past – this can also be seen in the mascot. The quality of China's mascots has gradually been recognized around the world.
Leave a mark and pay tribute to the future
"China has left its mark on the history of the Olympic mascot." The New York Times retraced that the first Olympic mascot was designed for the 1968 Olympic Games in Grenoble, France. The article describes China's history of using pandas as a "national treasure" as a diplomatic ambassador and mascot, and also explains the meaning of the name "ice pier": "ice" means "ice and snow" in Mandarin, and "pier" translates to "robust and lively", which is also a nickname for children.
Agence France-Presse said that although the official definition of "ice pier" is "ice child", the name of the popular mascot is more commonly understood as "ice fat man".
The International Olympic website featured an article about the ice pier, saying it wore a full-body shell made of ice that resembled a spacesuit. It's a tribute to embracing new technologies and embracing a future with endless possibilities.
NBC reported that the ice pier combines the image of the panda with the shell of the ice crystal, and the overall image resembles that of an astronaut. The ice crystal shell embodies the characteristics of winter ice and snow sports. In the Chinese, "ice" symbolizes purity and strength, and "pier" means thick, healthy, lively and cute, which fits the overall image of the panda, symbolizing the strong body, tenacious will and inspiring Olympic spirit of the Winter Olympic athletes.
"Lively, playful, funny, witty and full of positive energy." Christopher Dolby, director of the IOC's Olympic Department, expressed his love for "ice piers" in a series of adjectives. "The 'ice pier' must be my collection, and it will be the collection that all children around the world will have," he said.
According to The Latin American News Agency, the mascot of the Beijing Winter Olympics, "Ice Pier", and the mascot of the Winter Paralympic Games, "Snow Rongrong", were selected from 5816 domestic and foreign design works. As with all major sporting events, the various symbols of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics are among the protagonists, through which China hopes to let the world know about the highly respected elements of Chinese culture, traditions and values.
On February 11, The New York Times visited the flagship Olympic souvenir store in central Beijing and saw a long queue waiting to buy Winter Olympic souvenirs. The report quoted a Beijing resident as saying that adults and children in China like the design of "ice piers", and people have also found national pride in the popularity of "ice piers". "An important reason is the rise of domestic brands. We are proud of the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics. We have cultural self-confidence. ”