Who (and what) is the Olympics mascot? Say hello to the Phryges
What is the Olympics mascot for Paris 2024? Meet the Olympic and Paralympic Phryges and discover what kind of item they represent.
This page may contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
What is the Paris Olympics mascot?
The pair of mascots at the Paris summer Olympics are hats. Specifically, they are Phrygian caps, aka liberty caps.
“We chose an ideal rather than an animal,” Tony Estanguet, president of Olympic Games Paris 2024 and former Olympic athlete, said when the Olympics mascots were revealed in 2022. “We chose the Phrygian cap because it’s a very strong symbol for the French Republic. For French people, it’s a very well-known object that is a symbol of freedom, an object that will represent mascots all across the world. The fact that the Paralympics mascot has a visible disability also sends a strong message: to promote inclusion.”
The Phryges characters
Ready for some lore? The two sentient Phrygian caps serving as the summer Olympics mascots are part of a whole family of similar beings called the Phryges. The mascots’ individual names are Olympic Phryge and Paralympic Phryge.
“According to our narrative, they have existed for thousands of years and were present during several key events in French history,” said Julie Matikhine, brand director of Olympic Games Paris 2024. “Now they have returned for this big event in France to lead a mission of revolution through sport.
Official Olympics literature refer to each mascot as “it/its,” and refer to the mascots collectively as “they/them.”
According to an Olympics press release, Olympic Phryge is “calculating” and “methodical,” possessing an “alluring charm.” Paralympic Phryge is “spontaneous” and “full of energy and enthusiasm.”
Phryges Olympics mascot merch
Yes, there is merchandise repping the Olympics mascots.
Plush toys of Olympic Phryge and Paralympic Phryge plush toys
$14 each
Figurines of Olympic Phryge and Paralympic Phryge
$41 (Olympic Phryge), $31 (Paralympic Phryge)
Pins of Olympic Phryge and Paralympic Phryge
$5 (Olympic Phryge), $8 (Paralympic Phryge)
There’s a lot more Olympics mascot merchandise available on the Games’ official website:
Phryges Olympic highlights
See the Olympics mascots in action, both as animated characters and walk-around costumes:
The Phryges follow in the tradition of the first Olympics mascot, Shruss (a red ball with blue legs skiing), who debuted at the 1968 Winter Games in Grenoble, France.
How to watch the Paris Olympics
The Paris Olympics are airing on NBC and streaming on Peacock.
Live coverage of all events streams on Peacock in real time (so you never have to miss a moment of the Olympics mascots’ iconicity). “Primetime in Paris” broadcasts on NBC each evening at 7 p.m. or 8 p.m., depending on the day, providing replays of the day’s biggest events.
Each morning, the “Today” show on NBC features live reports from the Olympic Games.
Peacock also boasts playlists organized by each sport, various star athletes, and other categories, such as the best of Snoop Dogg’s Olympics moments and a collection of “Saturday Night Live” Olympics-themed sketches.
Additionally, Peacock provides ongoing new episodes of “Olympic Highlights with Kevin Hart and Kenan Thompson,” “Watch with Alex Cooper,” and the docuseries “Le Grande Seine,” spotlighting the making of the opening ceremonies.
The closing ceremonies will take place Sunday, Aug. 11, at 3 p.m. ET, presented live on both NBC and Peacock with a multi-continent stunt by Tom Cruise. (Any chance the Olympics mascots will join him?) A rerun of the closing ceremonies will air at 7 p.m. ET on NBC.
The Paralympic Games will take place Aug. 28 – Sept. 8, 2024, and will similarly air on NBC and stream on Peacock.
More Attractions Magazine stories:
Follow us:
No matter where you want to go, our trusted partner MEI-Travel will handle the planning so you can focus on the memories. They offer free vacation-planning services and have nearly 20 years of experience creating memorable vacations. Visit MEI-Travel for a fee-free, no-obligation quote today.
