Lizzie (mascot)
The mascot for the 2000 Paralympics was "Lizzie" the Frill-necked Lizard.[1] The frill of the Paralympic mascot was coloured in green and gold and represented the country via the shape. The ochre colour of Lizzie’s body aimed to mirror the colour of the land. The frill neck lizard is a native Australian animal which inhabits northern parts of the country. The lizard was chosen because of its will to survive along with its tenacity, it carries the Paralympic message of power and pride to both Australians and international audiences.[2] The strength, determination and attitude of Lizzie symbolise the character traits of all Paralympic Athletes.[3]
Lizzie has been given the voice of Olivia Newton-John, a well-known Australian singer, actor and entertainer. Olivia made performances with Lizzie leading up to the Games, spreading the word about excellence within the Paralympic Community.[4]
The outstanding visibility and community engagement to Lizzie the lizard ultimately led to marketing success, unrivalled by the three olympic mascots. Lizzie captured the imagination of the public, leading to the iconic representation at the Paralympic games. The Australian Paralympic Committee noted the significant branding capitol and realised that this could be leveraged in the future.[5]
See also
References
- ↑ "A Brief History of the Olympic and Paralympic Mascots". Beijing2008. 5 August 2004. Retrieved 25 October 2006.
- ↑ "Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games - Lizzy". International Paralympic Committee (IPC). n.d. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
- ↑ Brittain, Ian (2012). From Stoke-Mandeville to Stratford: A History of the Summer Paralympic Games. Illinois: Common Ground.
- ↑ "Olympic Games" (PDF). Olympic Information Center. 1997. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
- ↑ Legg, David; Gilbert, Keith (2011). "Chapter 8: Sydney 2000: Moving from Post-Hoc Legacy to Strategic Vision and Operational Partnerships". In Darcy, Simon; Appleby, Louis. Paralympic Legacies. Illinois: Common Ground Publishers. pp. 75–95.