Big news on the Olympic mascot front. The Canadian Olympic team has finally announced who/what will be replacing Quatchi, Miga, Mukmuk et al as its official mascot for the upcoming Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.
Eschewing fur, earmuffs, snowboards, quasi-mystical First Nations powers and the female gender this time around, “Komak” is a young male moose born in Ontario’s Algonquin Park. According to his bio, “because [Komak] is a moose, he is a strong swimmer and in particular excels at open water swimming.” Which totally makes sense because there are no swimming events in the Winter Olympics.
And what is a Komak anyway? According to a quick Google search, which Olympic officials either failed to do or decided to ignore, Komak is a DC Comics character, recruitment specialist for the oil and gas industry, a Portland-based non-profit providing financial assistance to individuals with cancer, a grunt in World of Warcraft “found patrolling the Valley of Strength in Orgrimmar,” a Sweden-based Kurdish rights organization and, finally, Persian for “help.”
In addition to Komak’s dubious predilection for water sports and a multiple-meaning name, his appearance leaves something to be desired.
Whereas Canada’s 2010 mascots had a stylish Japanese doll vibe to them, Komak looks like he’s been yanked from a Canadian elementary school health and fitness program circa 1979. However, he does possess at least one modern accoutrement — a Twitter account. Sadly, as of Monday, @Komak had a paltry 1,835 followers. Not only that, but he doesn’t seem to have a Tumblr, Flickr, Foursquare or Adult Friend Finder account. And why isn’t he in Second Life?
All of which makes us wonder, would this have been the case if the Olympics for once in their narrow-minded heads had gone with one of K&K’s many mascot suggestions such as Barrance the Belligerent Badger, Narwhal Ned or Connie the Newly Divorced Highly-Paid Executive Cougar? Doubtful.
