Meet Fu Niu Lele – the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Mascot

Fu Niu Lele, the mascot of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Summer Games, is known for its brightly coloured coat and friendly personality. Its name literally means “Good Luck! (Fu) - Cow (Niu) - Happiness (Lele)”, reflecting its cheerful nature. The design of Fu Niu Lele was created by a professor from Tsinghua University’s Academy of Arts and Design. Wu GuanYing selected a cow as a mascot because he grew up on a farm and saw how cows are gentle and formed bonds with people. The cow symbolises the bond between humans and nature, evidenced by artwork depicting cows in the countryside throughout history.

ⒸIPC

Combining the Paralympic Values with China’s Cultural Heritage

A design contest was held to find the mascots for the Beijing 2008 Games and the Organising Committee received more than 600 entries for the competition. The Committee wanted the mascots to represent the culture of China while appealing to people around the world. This is why Fu Niu Lele’s design carries significant elements from Chinese culture as well as Paralympic values. In Chinese culture, cows are animals that represent successful and bountiful harvests, and they are symbolic of determination, diligence and optimism. These values are parallel to the values promoted by the Paralympic Games: the determination and diligence of the athletes as they strive for excellence. The Paralympic mascot was painted in colours taken from traditional Chinese New Year’s drawings and gifts, combining tradition with its modern silhouette.