Inspired from the Five Olympic Rings, five Fuwas, known as the Five Friendlies, will serve as the mascots of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, as announced on November 11. The Friendlies -- five lovely and vivid animals native to China -- are designed to carry the message of friendship, peace, and love to rest of the world while also expressing the best wishes for a harmonious relationship between human and nature.

Blending four of China's most popular animals -- the fish, panda, Tibetan antelope, and swallow -- and the Olympic flame in their design patterns, the Five Friendlies look much like five little children holding hands.
Each of the Five Friendlies has a rhythmic two-syllable name -- a traditional way of expressing affection for children. Bei Bei is the fish, Jing Jing the panda, Huan Huan the Olympic Flame, Ying Ying the Tibetan antelope, and Ni Ni the swallow. When put together, their names form the phrase "Beijing huan ying ni (Welcome to Beijing)," a warm invitation that reflects their mission as young ambassadors for the Beijing Olympic Games.

The Five Friendlies, whose origins and headgears imply the five elements in nature (the ocean, forest, fire, earth, and sky), also carry the dreams and aspirations of Chinese people. Their image designs, adopting the traditional way of expression in Chinese folk arts, vividly showcases the brilliant and profound Chinese culture.

A gift from China to the world and the Olympic Games, the Five Friendlies, like the Olympic emblem and slogan, express Chinese people's aspiration for a peaceful, friendly, progressive, and harmonious world. Imbued with a strong Chinese flavor, the mascots embody the multinational characteristics of Chinese culture and the whole nation's recognition of the harmonious coexistence of human beings and nature.

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