Talismans of the World Cup 2018

Each World Championship, since 1966, has its own talisman. The main symbol of the games inspires the athletes and charges the rostrum with the positive emotions. Long before the start of the Championship it sets the festive mood in the cities of the host country.

The beginning of a good tradition was laid by Lion Willie, who became a symbol of the World Cup of Great Britain, then the Mexican boy Juanito intercepted the baton, and the tradition has started! There were the Spanish bright orange Naranjito, the burning Mexican pepper Pique, the rooster Footix ... Today the official symbol of the World Cup 2018 in Russia is the vigorous and charming wolf Zabivaka.

Lion Willie, the first talisman of World Cup, 1966, photo WEB

Before winning, Zabivaka had to pass the most demanding competition. Literally, the whole country was involved in the process!

Two years ago, FIFA conducted an online survey among children who offered candidates for the title of the main symbol of the World Cup 2018. Then students from different cities drew these characters. Then the designers processed the received drawings and only after that they were sent to the online voting.

Zabivaka had to pass the most demanding competition, photo WEB

In total, more than 50,000 drawings were offered. The Cat, Tiger-Cosmonaut and Wolf were three finalists. The latter proved to be the undisputed leader, ahead with 53% of the vote. More than a million football fans took part in the voting on the FIFA website, and the results were summed up live on the show "Evening Urgant".

The character was created by a student-designer from Tomsk, Ekaterina Bocharova.  After the vote, Zabivaka was sold for $ 500. The name of the soccer symbol of the World Cup 2018 was the result of the Organizing Committee staff joint creativity.

Ekaterina Bocharova created the symbol of the 2018 World Cup, photo WEB

So that is how the Wolf Zabivaka appeared and became the symbol of the World Cup 2018. His sport suit is painted in the colors of the Russia flag, on his chest flaunts the inscription Russia 2018, and his eyes cover the racing glasses, eloquently hinting at the amazing speed of the main football player of the country.

The fans say that he is the youngest in the team, but he never breaks the rules, loves football and has excellent technique and reaction. And anyway, he's just amazingly charismatic! Today this handsome symbol is known all over the world, and on June 7 he even went to space. The image of the talisman was applied to one of the rocket stages, which will lead the Soyuz spacecraft onto the flight trajectory from the Baikonur cosmodrome.

Zabivaka went to space on June 7, photo WEB

In addition to the mascot, the Championship has an official emblem that repeats the outlines of the cup. According to the idea of the creators it reflects the concept of the Russian soul, as well as the historical and cultural heritage of Russia. Authors of the logo were the Portuguese - the design agency Brandia Central won the contest and submitted a ready work back in late October 2014. Then the emblem received the name - Soul.

The mascot and logo are not the only symbols of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The unique style was approved for all city-organizers, reflecting their cultural and architectural values. Its main task is to increase the tourist attractiveness of Russia, to tell about its main attractions and beauties with the help of bright visual images.

The official emblem reflects the concept of the Russian soul, photo WEB

The Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, and the Forest of Kaliningrad's dancing trees, and the monument to Peter the Great in St.Petersburg, and dozens of other architectural, historical and natural monuments of Russia are guessed at them.

Zabivaka and Soul  will disperse around the world after the finals of the World Cup in the form of souvenirs. The images of Russian cities will remain in the hearts of fans from all over the world. And we can only hope that the game of our team will be as bright and unforgettable as the wonderful symbols of the Championship.

Victoria Romanova, Russia, Moscow

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