Deadline for UAE Olympic mascot design extended to November 6

ABU DHABI // Designers from all over the UAE now have until November 6 to submit their ideas about what the country's Olympic mascots should look like.

The deadline has been extended in a bid to attract more participants. The previous deadline had been October 23.

The competition announced by the UAE National Olympic Council is open to both Emiratis and expatriates alike. Designers have been asked to submit suggestions for two mascots, a boy and a girl, to represent local initiatives leading up to the 2012 Olympic Games.

The Council wants the mascots to be the ambassadors of the Olympic spirit and the values of the UAE. The mascots should also embrace the culture as well as the historical and religious values of the UAE.

The images will also be used to represent UAE athletes competing in the upcoming Arab Games, which will take place in December in Qatar.

The winning design will receive Dh50,000, and winners will be announced on November 20 in Campaign Magazine.

The 2012 Olympic Games will take place in London from July 27 to August 12. Dubai was considering a bid to host the games in 2020, but decided to postpone its application until a later stage.

vtodorova@thenational.ae

More information about the competition can be obtained on www.campaignme.com/olympicmascot.