With the official launch of the 2024 Olympics in Paris just less than a month away, the Olympic Committee have unveiled the mascot for the Games. Previous mascots were mostly caricature animals or figures, sometimes native to the host nation. But never has it been, indeed, a hat.
These aren’t just any ordinary hats, or even berets. They are called Phrygian caps, otherwise known as ‘liberty’ caps. They were long associated with the values of liberty throughout history, and were worn during the French Revolution. It came to symbolise ‘allegiance to the republican cause’.
“Rather than an animal, our mascot represents an ideal,” says Paris 2024 president Tony Estanguet.
“Since it is familiar to us and appears on our stamps and the pediments of our town halls, it also represents French identity and spirit.”
The phrygian cap first came to prominence in 1675, and were later worn during the construction of famous monuments including the Notre-Dame cathedral and Eiffel Tower; the latter being built during the 1924 Olympic Games.
The mascots are two of these caps, one of which has a prosthetic leg. They symbolise the Olympics and Paralympics. Together, they are known as the Phrygian tribe.
What is the significance of the Phryge cap as this year’s Olympic mascot?
To the French, the Phryge cap has and always will be a symbol of freedom since it has been part of their history ever since ancient times. Having the prosthesis feature one of these phrygian caps sends an inclusive message to all disabled people.
“That’s the key for us, because we suffer from being invisible in society,” says 2008 Beijing Paralympic Gold Medalist Michael Jeremiasz.
“We have to use Paris 2024 as a powerful tool to change our rights”
“As Paris 2024’s vision is to demonstrate that sport can change lives, the mascots will be playing a major role by leading a revolution through sport.” the International Olympic Committee said on its website.
The motto for these phrygian caps is “Alone we go faster, but together we go further” representing how the mascots, as well as the people in our world, can go further to help each other by working side-by-side.
With this addition, the Olympic Committee hope to encourage inclusivity across people with disabilities and equality amongst everyone. They hope that this is the beginning of which we can begin to respect and value everybody wholeheartedly.
Peace! ✌️