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Beijing Unveils Paralympic Mascot

Olympic fever has kicked off in China as the 2008 Paralympic mascot was unveiled at the Great Wall Wednesday night. China's vice president, Zeng Qinghong, was on hand for the coming out party for "Fu Niu Lele" which translates to "Happiness, the cow who we wish fortune upon." A tad patronizing considering the nature of these games. President of the 2008 Organizing committee, Liu Qi, said of the colorful cow, "The design of the mascot absorbs the style of the Chinese culture, embodying the harmony between man and nature and resembling the traditional design styles unique to China's folk engraved prints and folk toys." Yeah, I suppose. But it seems that organizers may have missed the mark with their mascot design. The paralympians are athletes with mobility disabilities and amputated limbs and their mascot is a cow who not only appears to have full mobility and operative extremities, but the guy does tricks. Hey, look at me! I can stand on one leg while my arms are folded behind my back! I have no problem balancing on one of my two fully functional legs! A little insulting if you ask me. For a full story, click here.