The Russian Mascot World Cup During the 2018 FIFA World Cup held in Russia, one of the highlights was the introduction of the Russian Mascot. Every World Cup tournament since 1966 has had a unique mascot, created to represent the host country and add an element of fun and excitement to the event. For the 2018 World Cup, the official mascot was Zabivaka. Zabivaka, which means "the one who scores" in Russian, was a wolf with blue and white sportswear. The wolf was chosen as a symbol of Russia's wildlife, as well as its determination and teamwork. The design of Zabivaka was selected through a nationwide contest in Russia, where thousands of people submitted their ideas.
According to the OSU Special Archives, after graduating from OSU as a second lieutenant in the Air Force with his degree in industrial engineering, Austin would serve in the armed services until 1958. He then moved on to various positions until he and his wife, Joan Austin, founded the Austin Dental Equipment Company, or A-Dec, in 1964. The company would gain international reputation as a leader in its field in the years to come.
I think I have bled orange ever since my summer school experience in 1942 when I got to go to the 4-H summer school program at Oregon State College, Austin said in an email. I had no coaching as to how to perform as Benny because it was so new, but as you can imagine from a recent PBJ interview, I acted more like a rodeo clown than a student mascot, Austin said via email.
The design of Zabivaka was selected through a nationwide contest in Russia, where thousands of people submitted their ideas. The winning design was created by a student named Ekaterina Bocharova and was unveiled in October 2016. Zabivaka quickly became a popular figure among fans.
Mascot Monday: Benny Beaver
This week on the good ole Mascot Monday we thought we would take a look out west and hit up Athlon Sports’ Pre Season Top 25 Oregon State Beavers and their mascot Benny Beaver. Benny’s been through a couple of changes and we here at the KCCGD can get down with that. But he’s been adding and dropping baggage here and there that makes us wonder just a little bit. From the first appearance to the creepy little addition today, Benny’s been all over the block. One thing for sure is, with them big chompers Benny will continue to lay it down on any wood that’s out there.
Benny was not to be found when Oregon was around pre-1900. First up, we have Jimmie the coyote. Yes, a live coyote. Jimmie was around from 1892-1893. While historians are busy trying to figure when the name ‘Beaver’ first peeped out of mouths around there, a bulldog took the mascot mantle from 1906-1910. Thank you then athletic director James Arbuthnot. So we’ve seen some tasty animal mascots help keep spirits up on the sideline, but we’ve never seen an actual human mascot.
Until now. So for some time between 1893 and 1928, one of the Regents Board member, John Richard Newton Bell, stood out as the main supporter for Oregon State. JRN Bell would march on to the Marys River after the team beat rival Oregon in the Civil War and toss his hat into the river for celebration. Traditions like that honored him with the title of ‘mascot’ for the school. We have seen mascots that were caricatures of human beings but this is the first time we’ve seen an actual human as a mascot. Too bad they didn’t have t-shirt cannons around at that time so JRN Bell could get more lift on his top hat.
Back to Benny. From 1933-1944 there was reference to a Billy Beaver but Benny was the name that stuck, circa 1941. The current Benny Beaver is also known as the Angry Beaver and people switch back and forth on the names. The outfit sports the football team’s uni and fills out with fur. The head is ginormous and until recently had a nasty growl. Nowadays it’s a big ole buck tooth and happy grin, much like the logo Arthur C. Evans dreamed up back in 1951. The same logo is used in Teen Wolf. Someone call up Styles.
Benny is not alone, however. For some time throughout the 80’s and the mid 90’s, Benny was accompanied by a female equivalent name Bernice. We’re not sure what happened to their storied love song, but some point a breakup happened and we’re left with just plain ole Benny. That is until Junior Benny popped up late last November. Before we get too Maury Povich, it is just a tiny bit curious that a kid Benny shows up about 10 years after Bernice left. Coincidence? We don’t know. At least Junior Benny isn’t on crack or anything. We hope.
So that rounds out the wacky tale of Benny Beaver and his somewhat mediocre travels. Before Oregon State stuck with this guy, they had some animals and an actual dude. Yeah Benny trekked around with a dame and they split up, but the happy little offspring is his responsibility now. For the costume, it’s fairly standard and nothing exciting. The football team hopes to be exciting this year, but we probably won’t look for Benny to lead the charge that hard. He’s dealing with his new buck-toothed mouth to feed.
“My identity was unknown at OSC while being the first Benny Beaver and they would always ask my girlfriend in the stands who was inside that costume when I would come up to her during the games,” Ken Austin said in an email. “My fellow fraternity members all knew I was Benny and would give me a hard time—all part of the fun of being Benny.”
The mascot appeared in various promotional events leading up to the World Cup, and its image was widely used on merchandise such as t-shirts, toys, and accessories. Zabivaka also had its own animated series, with short episodes aired online and on television. The mascot's role during the World Cup was to entertain the crowd, interact with fans, and create a lively atmosphere in the stadiums. Zabivaka could be seen dancing, posing for photos, and participating in various activities during matches. Its playful and friendly nature became a favorite among children and adults alike. The Russian Mascot World Cup was successful in bringing joy and excitement to the tournament. Zabivaka became a symbol of the 2018 World Cup and helped create lasting memories for millions of football fans around the globe. The mascot's legacy continues even after the tournament, as it remains a beloved figure associated with the Russian World Cup..
Reviews for "The charm of Zabivaka: How the mascot captures the spirit of the World Cup"
- John - 1 star - I was really disappointed with the Russian mascot for the World Cup. The design was lacking creativity and was far from memorable. I couldn't even remember what it was supposed to be after seeing it a couple of times. It felt rushed and poorly executed. Definitely not up to par with previous World Cup mascots.
- Sarah - 2 stars - The Russian mascot for the World Cup was a huge disappointment for me. The concept seemed interesting, but the execution was poor. The character lacked charm and didn't really reflect the spirit of the tournament. It felt like a missed opportunity to showcase Russian culture and heritage. Overall, I was not impressed and it didn't leave a lasting impact on me.
- Michael - 3 stars - The Russian mascot for the World Cup was just average in my opinion. I had higher expectations for such a prestigious event. The design was decent, but it didn't have that wow factor. It was forgettable and didn't really stand out among other World Cup mascots. It was an opportunity to showcase Russian creativity, but it fell short.