The Phryges Explained

Above:The Phryges
Headerstyle:background:#dde8ff;
Labelstyle:background:#fed;
Header1:Mascots of the 2024 Summer Olympics and 2024 Summer Paralympics (Paris)
Label2:Creator
Data2:Gilles Deleris
Label3:Based on
Data3:Phrygian cap

The Phryges (in French fʁiʒ/; singular: Phryge) are the official mascots of Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.[1] They are two anthropomorphic Phrygian caps, a symbol of France.

History

Background

The Phrygian cap, a soft hat typically in red, was traditionally worn by freed slaves in Phrygia, an ancient kingdom located in present-day Turkey.[2] Since the 1789 storming of the Bastille state prison, which began the French Revolution, the Phrygian cap was worn as a symbol of liberty, including during the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris.[3] Marianne, the national personification of France, is often depicted wearing a Phrygian cap.[4]

Unveiling

On 14 November 2022, with the reveal of the Paris 2024 mascot, they were advertised as "sporty, party-loving and so French."[5] Tony Estanguet, president of the organizing committee, said that an "ideal" was chosen over an animal, elaborating on the cap's symbol of freedom and meaning to French people. He added that the Paralympics mascot's disability "also sends a strong message: to promote inclusion."[6]

Characteristics

The Phryges are portrayed as two red triangular-shaped anthropomorphic caps. They have arms in a slope and present their top parts flopping forward. The Paris 2024 emblem is visible on their chests, and their eyes are adorned by tricolor ribbons portraying the French flag, paying homage to the cockade of France.[7] [8] The Olympic Phryge has two blue sneakers, while the Paralympic Phryge wears a prosthesis and a red sneaker on the other leg.[9]

Each Phryge was given a personality. The Olympic Phryge is "the smart one" with a "methodical mind and alluring charm," whereas the Paralympic Phryge is "a party animal, spontaneous and a bit hotheaded."[10]

Intellectual property

The IOC maintains exclusive ownership and control of the use of Olympic Symbols through an international treaty, the Nairobi Treaty on the Protection of the Olympic Symbol[11] . While the mascots represent free-spiritedness, they are not to be used freely and generate revenues from granting exclusive rights, such as worldwide marking to commercial partners. IP protected assets of the Olympic Games properties come in different forms:

The Olympic Phryge and the Paralympic Phryges mascots were present on more than 150 merchandises items in the Olympic shop alone (keyring, pins, magnets, water bottles, baby rattles, tote bags, baseball caps, plush toys etc.)[12]

The revenues[13] generated through the IOC’s strategic use of IP rights are redistributed across the Olympic Movement to individual athletes, Organising Committees, NOCs, International Sports Federations and other sports organizations[14] .

Reception

In France, criticisms have been made about most of the toy replicas of the mascot being "Made in China."[15] Julie Matikhine, director of the Paris 2024 brand, responded that "18 percent of the stuffed toys produced by the company Doudou et Compagnie will be in Brittany," in the hope of "relocating part of the sector."[16]

The Phryges have been likened to a giant "clitoris in trainers",[17] and have been nicknamed French: le clito national (the national clitoris) by French netizens. The French newspaper Libération hailed it as a revolutionary departure from the traditional phallic symbol of the Eiffel Tower.[18]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Meet Olympic Phryge and Paralympic Phryge: The story of the Paris 2024 mascots. 14 November 2022. 14 November 2022.
  2. News: O'Neill . Shane . Chery . Samantha . 31 July 2024 . Is the Paris Olympics 2024 mascot so weird it works? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240731123934/https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/of-interest/2024/07/30/phryges-paris-olympics-mascot-2024/ . 31 July 2024 . 6 August 2024 . . en-US . 0190-8286.
  3. Web site: Cohen . Rebecca . 26 July 2024 . What are Phryges? Everything to know about the Paris 2024 mascot . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240806053957/https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/olympics/what-are-phyrges-everything-to-know-paris-2024-mascot-rcna163751 . 6 August 2024 . 6 August 2024 . . en.
  4. News: Darbhamulla . Sruthi . 22 July 2024 . Paris Olympics 2024: The story behind The Phryges, the mascot . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240723013212/https://www.thehindu.com/sport/olympics/paris-olympics-2024-the-story-behind-the-phryges/article68410360.ece . 23 July 2024 . 6 August 2024 . The Hindu . en-IN . 0971-751X.
  5. Web site: Mather . Victor . 14 November 2022 . Liberté, Égalité, Millinery? . live . https://archive.today/20221115142403/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/14/sports/olympics/paris-olympics-mascot-phryge.html . 15 November 2022 . 14 November 2022 . The New York Times.
  6. News: Belam . Martin . 14 November 2022 . Meet the Phryges: Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic mascots unveiled . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240722021048/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/nov/14/paris-2024-olympic-mascot-paralympic-mascot-phryges-france . 22 July 2024 . 6 August 2024 . . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  7. News: 2022-11-14 . Paris 2024 chooses symbol of French Revolution as Olympic mascot . 2024-08-06 . en.
  8. Web site: 26 July 2024 . Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Everything you should know about 'Phryge', the mascot of the summer games . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240806010525/https://indianexpress.com/article/trending/trending-globally/paris-2024-olympic-games-phryge-the-mascot-9477158/ . 6 August 2024 . 6 August 2024 . . en.
  9. Web site: Clark . Meredith . 16 November 2022 . Paris 2024 Olympics mascot mocked for resembling 'giant clitorises' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231211211939/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/paris-olympics-2024-mascot-hat-clitoris-b2226664.html . 11 December 2023 . 6 August 2024 . . en.
  10. Web site: 14 November 2022 . Paris 2024 Olympic, Paralympic mascots unveiled . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230604151714/https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2022/11/14/paris-2024-olympic-paralympic-mascots/ . 4 June 2023 . 14 November 2022 . NBC Sports.
  11. Web site: Nairobi Treaty on the Protection of the Olympic Symbol . 2024-08-20 . www.wipo.int . en.
  12. Web site: The Phryges – Paris 2024 Mascots Star as Olympic Merchandise . 2024-08-20 . www.wipo.int . en.
  13. Web site: 2024 . Olympic Marketing Fact File 23024 Edition . stillmed.olympics.com.
  14. Web site: The IP journey of an Olympic Games . 2024-08-20 . www.wipo.int . en.
  15. Web site: 14 November 2022 . Phrygian cap symbolising French republic chosen as 2024 Paris Olympics mascot . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240210111949/https://www.france24.com/en/sport/20221114-phrygian-cap-symbolising-french-republic-chosen-as-2024-paris-olympic-mascot . 10 February 2024 . 14 November 2022 . France 24.
  16. Web site: 14 November 2022 . Made-in-China 'Phryges' toys are surprise mascots for Paris Olympics 2024 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230726132544/https://www.rfi.fr/en/sports/20221114-made-in-china-phryges-toys-surprise-mascots-for-paris-olympics-2024-sports-business-french-revolution-history . 26 July 2023 . 14 November 2022 . Radio France International.
  17. Web site: Chrisafis . Angelique . 15 November 2022 . Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games mascots likened to 'clitoris in trainers' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240805050728/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/nov/15/mascot-paris-olympic-games-2024-likened-to-clitoris-in-trainers-phryges . 5 August 2024 . 15 November 2022 . The Guardian.
  18. Web site: Girard . Quentin . 14 November 2022 . JO 2024 : vive les Phryges, les mascottes clitoris qui en mettent plein la vulve . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240806070841/https://www.liberation.fr/sports/jo-2024-vive-les-phryges-les-mascottes-clitoris-qui-en-mettent-plein-la-vulve-20221114_QE3ICJC3ZZCYTLIZJYDCEBQXTQ/ . 6 August 2024 . 14 November 2022 . Libération.

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