Two Phrygian caps, a world symbol of the fight for freedom, will be the mascots of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to be held in 2024 in the world capital of fashion, of the avant-garde and of the first bourgeois revolution on the planet.
They are called the Phryges (pronounced free-jes) and they are nothing more than Phrygian caps like those worn by the French revolutionaries who took over the Bastille in the name of the republic in 1789.
Tony Estanguet, President of the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee explains: “We wanted mascots that embodied our vision and could share it with the French and the world. More than an animal, our mascots represent an ideal. The Phrygian cap is a symbol of freedom. Since it is familiar to us and appears on our stamps and on the pediments of our town halls, it also represents the French identity and spirit.”
Led by one Phrygian Olympian and one Phrygian Paralympian, the tribe of revolutionary caps will be key, the Olympic Games organizers say, in communicating the vision of Paris 2024: Changing lives by leading a revolution through sport.
To each his Olympic Frige, this is the motto that appears on the Paris 2024 website, and there are many sporting-revolutionary caps to choose from.
“In addition to embodying our Games, our mascots will carry them forward, showing the ambition of the Games, which is truly revolutionary,” Estranguet added.
Anime caps rooted at “cave paintings”
An international symbol of liberty appearing on many different emblems in North and South America, the Phrygian cap, also known as the “liberty cap,” has become one of the icons of the French Republic.
Today, it represents a common reference point for all French people: In art (as a metaphor for freedom), within French institutions, and even on everyday objects like coins and stamps.
The Paris 2024 site goes further by placing the first representation of a Phrygian cap in an anime cave painting in the Lascaux cave ;-).
Anyway, the truth is that for the first time in the history of the Olympic Games the mascots, like “madame la Republic”, are all “girls”, “vive la révolution!” 😉 .
There will be no Games until next July, but the revolution has already broken out
The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held respectively from July 26th to August 11th, 2024 and from August 28th to September 8th, 2024.
But the organizing committee of the Games has already launched a dedicated site in which, in addition to learning more about the Olympic Phrygians (Les Friges), one can purchase all kinds of merchandising with the Frige who best fits each one.
