The mascot Bing Dwen Dwen has been an sudden star of the Beijing Olympics however the roly-poly panda’s fame could show fleeting after the Feb. 20 closing ceremony.
Bing Dwen Dwen, which interprets to “Ice Panda”, made little splash when launched about two-and-a-half years in the past, eliciting a collective yawn from social media over one more panda character for a giant Chinese occasion.
It was propelled to stardom on Feb. 2, when Japanese tv journalist Gido Tsujioka confirmed Bing Dwen Dwen-themed gadgets throughout a broadcast, a clip of which went viral.
Related matter views that day reached 300 million on China’s Weibo social media platform, from 760,164 a day earlier. They doubled once more on Feb. 4, the day of the Olympics opening ceremony, and have averaged 400 million since.
A snowman depicting the Beijing Winter Olympics mascot Bing Dwen Dwen is pictured outdoors a media resort in Zhangjiakou, China. (REUTERS/Hannah McKay)
Games organizers have been caught unprepared, with hundreds of followers lining up in sub-freezing temperatures to purchase merchandise – from magnets and key chains to baggage and stuffed toys – and factories scrambling to make extra.
Chinese media fueled the frenzy, exhibiting footage of troopers marching in entrance of a Bing Dwen Dwen determine on the base of Mount Everest, whereas an formally licensed retailer was promoting a restricted version model encrusted in faux diamonds for two,022 yuan ($315).Many folks wrote on-line that queuing up for and shopping for the merchandise is their method of partaking with the Games. Because of COVID-19, no abnormal spectators have been allowed to observe the sports activities and the torch relay was shortened to 3 days and off-limits to spectators.
Organizers haven’t disclosed gross sales figures however some analysts estimate income from Beijing Olympic licensed merchandise may attain 2.5 billion yuan ($395 million). Bing Dwen Dwen’s flip within the highlight has not been with out incident.
State broadcaster CCTV was criticized on social media after a male reporter carried out an interview in a Bing Dwen Dwen swimsuit. Weibo customers that it ruined the mascot’s cuteness by talking and violated the International Olympic Committee’s guideline that mascots are gender impartial. The section was later faraway from the broadcaster’s web site.
A volunteer poses for {a photograph} with a snowman depicting the Beijing Winter Olympics mascot Bing Dwen Dwen. (REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji)
Scalpers have been punished for promoting merchandise at inflated costs and on Monday, the China Youth Daily reported {that a} girl promoting pirated Bing Dwen Dwen merchandise was jailed for a 12 months and fined 40,000 yuan.
While shortage has contributed to Bing Dwen Dwen’s enchantment, organizers have promised to spice up provides. Reports on Sunday of recent merchandise arriving in Beijing led to hypothesis the frenzy would quickly cool.
One Weibo person mentioned Bing Dwen Dwen gear would turn into like masks – in sizzling demand when COVID began, low-cost and plentiful now. Others posted images of their uncared for 2008 Beijing Games memorabilia.
“I don’t know how long Bing Dwen Dwen can maintain its fame. I cannot get one now, but I guess it will soon be two-for-one once it’s over the hill,” one particular person wrote.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
