It’s time for the final of the FISU #MascotMonday tournament that began six weeks ago! The title match sees U-Laika from Krasnoyarsk 2019 take on Bravo from Taipei 2017.
Since mid-November, FISU has been brightening up Mondays with the #MascotMondays tournament, with winners decided by votes on social media.
Eight mascots from previous winter and summer editions of the FISU World University Games were selected for this virtual tournament, including those from Belluno 1985, Sapporo 1991, Strbske Pleso 1987 and Kazan 2013.
Making it to the last four were ‘The Buffalo’ from Buffalo 1993, Wugie from Edmonton 1983, the Siberian husky U-Laika and Bravo the bear from Taipei. The bear and husky now go head to head in a vote-off that starts today.
FISU audiences have a chance to vote to choose the winner on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, with voting lasting 24 hours.
U-Laika, the very popular mascot of the Krasnoyarsk 2019 Winter Universiade, came through with an impressive win over the mascot from Edmonton 1983, with 70% of Instagram votes in her favour.
U-Laika was a crowd favourite at the FISU World University Games last year, and represents loyalty, friendliness, joy and unbridled energy.
Bravo, the mascot of the Taipei 2017 games is a Formosan black bear wearing a gold medal that represents the hope of the athletes.
The black bear is also an endangered species in Taipei and represents the commitment of the Organising Committee towards protecting the natural environment. Fun fact: The Mandarin name of the mascot, 熊讚 (Pinyin : Xióng Zàn), sounds like the word ‘brilliant’ in the Taiwanese Min-nan language.
As U-Laika and Bravo square off, head over to FISU’s Instagram, Twitter or Facebook pages to vote! Voting is underway.
