The Waldi mascot is a symbol of the Olympic Games. It was introduced at the 1972 Munich Olympics and has since become an iconic figure in Olympic history. Waldi is a dachshund, a breed of dog that is often associated with Germany. The design of the mascot was created by Otl Aicher, a German graphic designer. Waldi was chosen as the mascot for the Munich Olympics to represent the qualities of agility and endurance, which are important in sports. The dachshund was also chosen to reflect the culture and heritage of Germany.
“Everything about the plush Waldi was wrong”
Elena Schwaiger (née Winschermann) was part of the team surrounding Otl Aicher that created the overall design of the Games of the XX Olympiad in Munich. She had started an internship there in 1968 as a graphic design student. Together with Aicher, she then designed the famous Waldi mascot. The colourful dog obediently followed the design guidelines that had been established – and appeared in many different versions as the cheerful ambassador of a new Germany.
In Eva Moser’s biography of Aicher, we discover that there very nearly wasn’t a Waldi. Originally, a cartoon figure of an Upper Bavarian by the name of Seppl was meant to be the mascot of the Munich Summer Games. But then dachshund owner and president of the Organising Committee Willi Daume came into the picture. At an event, he had given Félix Lévitan, president of the International Association of the Sports Press, a wirehaired dachshund as a gift. To me, this story doesn’t sound like a plausible reason for choosing a dachshund of all things as the mascot.
I agree. But I wasn’t involved in that decision. It was clear to us that it couldn’t be an Alsatian, a lion or an eagle. It definitely couldn’t be any animal that traditionally represents power and strength. There may have been a competition in a Munich newspaper along the lines of “What should we have as our mascot?” – I don’t recall exactly. But I do remember that being how the name Waldi was settled on.
So at some point Aicher came to you and said it was going to be a dachshund.
What were your first thoughts?
I didn’t have any particular affinity with dachshunds – I still don’t. Aicher sat down with me and said something along the lines of: “Let’s give it a try and see how we can standardise this animal.” So that it always looks the same, in different sizes and materials.
form cover, issue 1/1971, drawing: Otl Aicher, cover graphics: Hanswerner Klein
Can I stop you there for a moment? The idea of standardisation, of embedding the Waldi design in the existing visual identity and colour spectrum of the Games, seems perfectly logical from today’s perspective. But that decision is nowhere near as obvious as it might seem. It would have been just as feasible to create a mascot that was totally unrelated to the corporate design. Or to reject the idea of designing something so banal completely and maybe hand the job over to a toy manufacturer right from the start.
I think the task of squeezing such a funny little creature into the design guidelines actually appealed to Aicher. He used to have quirky ideas sometimes – the idea of doing it intrigued him.
Design: Otl Aicher © Florian Aicher, HfG-Archiv / Museum Ulm, IOC
Design: Otl Aicher © Florian Aicher, HfG-Archiv / Museum Ulm, IOC
Design: Otl Aicher © Florian Aicher, HfG-Archiv / Museum Ulm, IOC
Design: Otl Aicher © Florian Aicher, HfG-Archiv / Museum Ulm, IOC
And that’s how this colourful character came to be created. It reminds me of a German idiom: if somebody is known far and wide, we say they stand out like a multicoloured dog – which is a pretty unusual sight, after all. You could even say that Waldi follows in the tradition of expressionism. Take Franz Marc, for instance: he gave animals colours that didn’t correspond to them as well. Waldi’s coloured stripes were a strategy to generate attention for a familiar form. And today it’s the only design related to functionalism and the HfG Ulm that has any wit. Branding the mascot was a self-ironic gesture too.
That’s exactly what Aicher was like: he definitely had a sense of humour, but at the end of the day everything had to subordinate itself and fit into a system. That was incredibly important to him. As far as the mascot was concerned, he didn’t want any slip-ups – nothing that fell out of line. And there was a lot of money involved too. Waldi was a big source of revenue. As head of Dept. 11, Aicher often enough found himself under pressure to design something more or less voluntarily. And when it came to deciding whether a Waldi variant could be produced under licence or not, the jurists of the Organising Committee were involved as well. That caused trouble now and again – sometimes Aicher or I had to put in a veto: “That’s a no-go, we can’t do that.”
There are quite a few variants of Waldi in different colours, sizes and materials, from a cuddly toy all the way to a dachshund made of gold. About 15, I believe?
Yes, more or less. I don’t know anything about a gold pendant though, that’s not from me. And we didn’t authorise the plush Waldi either. Everything about it was wrong. All sorts of things came on the market at the last minute, including pirate copies … there was no way of controlling it. I remember a Waldi made of mouth-blown glass too, in the corresponding colours.
Mascot
Alongside the distribution of the emblem, work began in mid-1970 on the commercial use of the official Olympic mascot, "Waldi".
Up to April 1, 1972 there were about 50 Waldi licensees. The Waldi producers had to pay a minimum licensing fee in advance. The task of the OC was not so much to acquire new contracts, as rather to promote sales volume in order to profit from higher licensing income.
Minimum licensing fees 245,000,- DM
Additional licensing fees 213,000,- DM
458,000,- DM
Two million Waldis have been sold in about 20 countries. At this time almost all Waldi producers have paid licensing fees in excess of the pre-paid minimum.
(Text from Official Report 1972, Vol. I, page 59)
Other Olympic Official Mascots:
- 1896 Athens, Greece
- 1900 Paris, France
- 1904 St. Louis, USA
- 1906 Athens, Greece
- 1908 London, England
- 1912 Stockholm, Sweden
- 1916 cancelled
- 1920 Antwerp, Belgium
- 1924 Paris, France
- 1928 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- 1932 Los Angeles, USA
- 1936 Berlin, Germany
- 1940 cancelled
- 1944 cancelled
- 1948 London, England
- 1952 Helsinki, Finland
- 1956 Stockholm, Sweden
- 1956 Melbourne, Australia
- 1960 Rome, Italy
- 1964 Tokyo, Japan
- 1968 Mexico City, Mexico
- 1972 Munich, Germany
- 1976 Montreal, Canada
- 1980 Moscow, Soviet Union
- 1984 Los Angeles, USA
- 1988 Seoul, South Korea
- 1992 Barcelona, Spain
- 1996 Atlanta, USA
- 2000 Sydney, Australia
- 2004 Athens, Greece
- 2008 Beijing, China
- 2012 London, England
- 2016 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- 2020 Tokyo, Japan
- 2024 Paris, France
- 2028 Los Angeles, USA
Waldi the Dachshund: A Pioneering Olympic Mascot with a Lasting Legacy
Waldi the Dachshund holds a special place in the history of the Olympic Games as the first-ever Olympic mascot. Designed for the 1972 Munich Olympics, Waldi's creation marked the beginning of a long-standing tradition of creating mascots for each Olympic event, both summer and winter. In this article, we will explore Waldi's origin, design, and the enduring legacy of this pioneering Olympic mascot.
The Birth of an Olympic Mascot
In an effort to create a more engaging and family-friendly atmosphere for the 1972 Munich Olympics, the organizing committee decided to introduce an official mascot. The mascot had to embody the spirit of the Olympic Games while also reflecting German culture and traditions. After careful consideration, a dachshund named Waldi was chosen for this monumental task.
The dachshund, a popular and iconic breed in Germany, was a fitting choice for the mascot. Known for their tenacity, agility, and endurance, dachshunds mirrored the qualities of Olympic athletes. Waldi's design was created by German graphic designer Otl Aicher, who also developed the visual identity for the 1972 Games.
Design and Symbolism
Waldi was designed with a sleek, stylized appearance that captured the essence of the dachshund breed while also reflecting the modern aesthetic of the Munich Olympics. The mascot's body was covered in a pattern of colorful stripes, with each color representing a different Olympic discipline. The bright, playful design of Waldi aimed to evoke a sense of fun and excitement, appealing to a wide audience of Olympic fans, especially children.
Waldi's design also served a practical purpose, as the mascot's colors and pattern were used throughout the Olympics' visual identity, including signage, promotional materials, and merchandise. This cohesive branding strategy helped to create a unified and memorable look for the Munich Games.
Legacy and Impact
As the first-ever Olympic mascot, Waldi set the stage for the mascots that would follow in subsequent Olympic events. The success of Waldi's design and the positive reception from fans and athletes alike demonstrated the potential of Olympic mascots to engage audiences and enhance the overall Olympic experience.
Since Waldi's debut, Olympic mascots have become an integral part of the Games' identity, with each host city creating a unique mascot that reflects their culture, history, and artistic vision. These mascots often serve as enduring symbols of their respective Olympic Games, leaving a lasting impression on fans and participants long after the event has ended.
In conclusion, Waldi the Dachshund's groundbreaking role as the first-ever Olympic mascot established a tradition that continues to this day. Waldi's enduring legacy is a testament to the power of mascots to create memorable experiences and connect with audiences of all ages, enriching the Olympic spirit for generations to come.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waldi
The dachshund was also chosen to reflect the culture and heritage of Germany. The design of Waldi features bright colors and a playful expression, which were intended to convey the spirit of the Olympic Games. Waldi quickly became popular among both athletes and spectators at the Munich Olympics.
The mascot was featured on a variety of merchandise, including pins, clothing, and souvenirs. Waldi also appeared in promotional materials and advertisements for the games. In addition to his role as a symbol of the Munich Olympics, Waldi has become a beloved figure in Olympic history. Mascots have continued to be a prominent aspect of the Olympic Games, with each host city introducing their own unique mascot. Waldi set the precedent for future mascots, highlighting the importance of creativity and cultural representation in Olympic branding. Overall, the Waldi mascot is an important part of Olympic history. It represents the spirit and values of the Olympic Games, as well as the culture and heritage of Germany. Waldi's design and popularity have influenced the creation of future Olympic mascots, making him an enduring and iconic figure in the world of sports..
Reviews for "The Legacy of Waldi: How the Munich Mascot Continues to Inspire"
1. Rachel - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with the Waldi mascot. The costume looked really cheap and the overall design was not very appealing. I felt like the mascot didn't really capture the essence of what it was supposed to represent. The performance was also quite lackluster and didn't engage the audience. Overall, I wouldn't recommend the Waldi mascot for any event.
2. Andrew - 1/5 - I had a really bad experience with the Waldi mascot. The person inside the costume was extremely unfriendly and didn't interact with the kids at all. The costume itself was dirty and worn out, which took away from the whole experience. It seemed like the company didn't put any effort into maintaining the mascot. I would definitely not choose the Waldi mascot for any future events.
3. Emily - 2/5 - The Waldi mascot was a huge letdown. The costume looked nothing like the character it was supposed to represent. It was poorly made and didn't have any recognizable features. The performance was also very disappointing, with the mascot barely doing anything entertaining or engaging. I wouldn't recommend the Waldi mascot to anyone who is looking for a fun and memorable experience.
4. James - 1/5 - The Waldi mascot was a complete waste of money. The whole experience was underwhelming and the costume looked incredibly cheap. The person inside the mascot didn't seem to have any energy or enthusiasm, making the whole performance dull and uninspiring. I was really disappointed and wouldn't recommend the Waldi mascot to anyone who wants a fun and interactive mascot experience.
5. Sarah - 2/5 - I was not impressed with the Waldi mascot at all. The costume was poorly made and didn't resemble the character it was supposed to represent. The performance was lackluster, with the mascot barely interacting with the audience. It just felt like a missed opportunity for a fun and entertaining experience. I wouldn't recommend the Waldi mascot to anyone who wants a memorable and engaging mascot for their event.