The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games mascots have been revealed – welcome the 'Phryges'.

These little red characters are based on the Phrygian cap, a symbol of freedom. The Phrygians stood shoulder to shoulder with the French people in all the key moments of history, and today they want to drive a revolution through sport.

The Phrygian cap has also been an important symbol in various parts of the world, leading back to ancient times. It featured on flags and coats of arms in Latin America before becoming widely popularised by French revolutionaries.

The Phrygian, or liberty, cap is a familiar symbol in France, alluding to the revolutionary spirit of the French while echoing the sporting revolution that Paris 2024 wants to lead.  

They are known to have been present in 1789, supporting the French people as they led a revolution that would change the face of the country. Others claim that they were also at the side of the impressionist painters when they started a major artistic revolution at the end of the 19th century.

Phryges students are said to have been spotted in Boulevard Saint-Germain in May 1968, participating in a cultural revolution.

The cap can be seen at the Louvre in Delacroix's famous painting, Liberty Leading the People. It is also worn by the French national icon Marianne, depicted in busts at town halls across the country as well as on stamps. The cap is also covered in the national curriculum at schools.

Today, a new generation of Phryges is back. The new generation of Phryges is a sporting one and has come to help drive a revolution through sport at the Paris 2024 Games.

Brave, determined and ready to do anything to succeed, they will get the people moving, whatever it takes.

They have already proved a hit in France since their launch this month, with 75% of French people saying they "appreciated" them. 

A variety of merchandise featuring the Phryges is already available online and we look forward to seeing more of them over the next two years.

More information about the Phryges can be found here. 

Qualification underway

The Olympic Games Paris 2024, officially known as the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, will be held in Paris, France from 26 July to 11 August 2024.

Starting a day before, on 25 July and taking place until the end of the Games, 12 men's and 12 women's teams will compete in their respective tournaments. 

These start with the preliminary round in South Paris Arena 6 in Paris and, from the quarter-finals onwards, at the Pierre Mauroy football stadium in Lille, which also hosted games at the 2017 IHF Men's World Championships.

As the host nation, France's men's and women's teams have automatically qualified, with a variety of continental and qualification tournaments deciding the remaining 22 teams, starting with the 2022 Women's European Championships, currently underway in Slovenia, with the winners of the final on Sunday (20 November), booking a Paris 2024 spot.

Photo: Paris2024