The design process for the mascots began in September 1997, and after prototypes were created, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved the mascots in December 1998.[1] The Salt Lake Organizing Committee (SLOC) worked with Landor Associates of San Francisco, California, and Publicis to design and market the mascots. The original illustrator of the mascots was Steve Small, known for his work in Rugrats and Disney's Hercules.[2] For the 2002 Winter Paralympic Games, SLOC subsequently requested Small, Landor and Publicis for the creation of a new mascot along the creative lines of Powder, Copper and Coal. They created "Otto", an otter that is to convey the agility and vitality of the athletes.[3]
Unveiling
All three mascots were publicly unveiled during a celebration on May 15, 1999, at the Triad Center in downtown Salt Lake City. This celebration was hosted by Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi and also celebrated 1,000 remaining days until the start of the 2002 games.[4] The mascots were unveiled during the ceremony as actor and American Indian Billy Daydodge narrated the mascots' stories (which are based on legends from American Indian traditions).[2]
On September 25, 1999, the names of the mascots were announced during a BYU Football game, in Provo, Utah (prior to this only the type of animals and their legends were known). Utah schoolchildren had originally suggested names for the mascots, and the top picks were then publicly voted on; the first in Olympic history.[5]
Mascots
The mascots are indigenous animals of the Western U.S., and are named after natural resources (except for Otto) which have long been important to Utah's economy, survival, and culture. All four animals are major characters in the legends of local American Indians, and each mascot (except for Otto) wears a charm around its neck with an original Anasazi or Fremont-style petroglyph to remind them of their heritage.[5][6][7]
Powder
Powder is a snowshoe hare who is an elegant, sleek competitor with a flare for fun in an exciteful way. She came from Fishlake National Forest. Quick and elusive, Powder can ski and skate circles around her competition. Her large, furry feet make her especially agile on snow and ice, while her lean, supple body is built for endurance and speed. She is surprisingly strong and eager to jump and spin while twirling her ears above her head. When Powder really flies, her long, sleek ears stream out like ribbons from behind her whiskers. Try as they may, the other mascots just can't catch their speedy little friend. Powder is joyful and delights in the spirit of competition. When she finishes second, she's the first to congratulate the champion, and when she watches her friends compete, her ears perk up and she thumps her feet to show her support. Powder is passionate about the music and ceremony of the Games. Regarding non-sporting stuff, she is an explorer. To show her support for a performance, she'll jump skyward, smiling in an expression of joy. If she sees people being unsupported, Powder will react with by drooping her ears and using her feet to kick snow. She represents "Faster" of the Olympic motto.[6] She loves to do skiing and figure skating.
The sun was too close to the earth and was burning it. The hare (Powder's ancestor) ran to the top of a mountain, and shot her arrow into the sun. This caused it to drop lower in the sky, cooling the earth. Because of this, she represents night, winter, the north of the four cardinal directions and the air element. Her symbol is a circle and a right arrow. Through diversity, she represents the White Americans. Her favorite color is purple. She tends to love ice cream especially those around the world. She is one of the three Olympic mascot, one of the four mascots of Salt Lake City 2002 and is also the only female of the four mascots of Salt Lake City 2002.
Copper is a coyote who is a flashy, youthful athlete who revels in the spotlight. Colorful and fearless, Copper is a confident competitor. He comes from Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Whether in the halfpipe or on the ice, his flamboyant, bold style always pleases the crowd. Far from shy in front of a camera, this coyote's charisma makes him the media darling of the mascot trio. Copper is more than just snow. His long, slender legs are surprisingly powerful, giving him the strength to spin, flip and sprint. He is extremely Sport-savvy and has memorized the details of every discipline in the history of the Games. He cheers the loudest and reaches the highest peaks of all the mascots. Regarding non-sporting stuff, he is a teacher. If he sees people displays unsportsmanlike behavior, Copper will react by bunching up his ears and will howl extremely loud.[6] He loves to do ice hockey and curling.
The earth froze and turned dark, the coyote (Copper's ancestor) climbed to the highest mountaintop and stole a flame from the fire people. He returned and brought warmth and light to the people. Because of the way his ancestor did, Copper represents Higher from the Olympic motto. He also represents morning, autumn, the south of the four cardinal directions and the fire element. His symbol is a circle and an up arrow. Through diversity, he represents the Hispanic and Latino Americans and Native Americans. His favorite color is yellow. He tends to love Jell-O. He is one of the three Olympic mascots and one of the four mascots of Salt Lake City 2002.
His name comes from the mineral of the same name.
Coal
Coal is an American black bear who is a powerful and courageous racer, he is as passionate about sport as he is about the environment due to him coming from the Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Coal is a force on both the slopes and the ice. His thick, muscular frame and short, sturdy legs give him a perfect build for either the racecourse or the speed skating oval. Surely no puck has ever slipped by this goalie's mitts. Coal is dedicated to more than just Sport. He is a tireless protector of his smaller mascot friends as well as the environment in which they live. As such, he is an environmentalist. Coal will bite people if he saw people pollute the environment. He loves to do speed skating.
Indigenous people respected and revered bears. There were many mysteries surrounding bear hibernation and as a result, the animals were often viewed as symbols of immortality. Because bears are capable of standing on their hind legs, Native Americans sometimes referred to them as cousins. One popular legend is that a group of hunters who were never able to kill a mighty bear. Today the sons of these hunters still chase the bear across the night sky as constellations. Because of his irreversible and undoubted strength, Coal represents Stronger[6] from the Olympic motto. He also represents the midnight, spring, the east of the four cardinal directions and the earth element. His symbol is a circle and an inverted triangle with a dot in a middle. Through diversity, he represents the African Americans. His favorite color is red. He tends to love French fries or any other potato dishes. He is one of the three Olympic mascots.
His name comes from the mineral of the same name.
Otto
Otto is an friendly sea otter. He is an only pup and lives with his parents in the at Wasatch Mountains. Otto loves to eat fish and sometimes uses tools to help him get to his meals. His best friends are children and Chris Waddell. He loves to do para-alpine skiing and ice sledge hockey. Otto will humiliate anyone if he saw people pollute the environment.
Native Americans revered otters as the most powerful of animals. The otter is a giver of great fortunes and a fast swimmer, though in some stories a bit of a show-off.[9][10] As he is the only Paralympic mascot of the four mascots of Salt Lake City 2002, Otto represents Mind, Body, Spirit (the Paralympic motto).[7] He also represents afternoon, summer, the west of the four cardinal directions and the water element. His symbol is a circle and two waves. Through diversity, he represents the Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans. His favorite colors are red, green and blue. He tends to love fish based dishes.
