The mascot for the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics may have been designed to represent the French revolution - but has now been hailed for also portraying 'a clitoris in trainers'.
The two red mascots, named 'Les Phryges', were officially unveiled at an official presentation in Saint-Denis last week. They are inspired by the conical hats - known as liberty caps - that were often worn around the time of the French Revolution in the 18th century.
And Tony Estanguet, triple Olympic canoeing champion and Paris 2024 President, lauded their historical context: "The word revolution is part of the French identity, and we want these Games to have that identity," he said. "Phyrgian Cap is a symbol of freedom, of liberty, which means we want to make this a very French idea."
However, the mascot costumes have now been compared to the inflatable red clitoris that was put up in front of the Eiffel Tower on International Women's Day last year. Campaign group Gang du Clito raised the inflatable by way of calling for more scientific research into the female muscle.
Not that everyone thinks that is a negative notion mind with feminist writer Julia Pietri pleased about the mascots inadvertently raising awareness of another matter: “I find it amusing because I campaigned for a long time to raise awareness of the anatomy of the clitoris, and four years ago when we launched, few people could recognise a clitoris," she said, via The Guardian.
"So today I’m happy and rejoicing that, thanks to all that’s happened in feminism, people can at least recognise the clitoris. It shows it’s now in popular culture and that’s a win.”
Quentin Girard, a writer for French newspaper Liberation, added the design was "revolutionary and feminist," and praised organisers for not going with a more obvious symbol: "From a political point of view, it's not a bad thing that Paris lets go of its eternal phallic Eiffel Tower," he said.
Unsurprisingly, sports enthusiasts have found the comparison comical, with many taking to Twitter with a humorous take. The @Technicalearn5 account wrote: "Here’s where the clitoris is: On the Paris 2024 mascot."
@eatplayloverun joked: "I don't necessarily see it, but we need more vaginas in public! Build us the skyscrapers!" @ssssstudio shared a picture of 'Les Phryges' with the caption, "Graphic design is my passion," while @MarkLungariello wrote: "These characters have really hit the sweet spot."
