Aussie mascot named Peng Peng
By Yang Jian |
July 31, 2009, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE Australian Expo team yesterday selected the name "Peng Peng," a reference to a large mythological Chinese bird, for its kookaburra mascot for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo after a two-month naming competition in China.
Chen Yue, a 27-year-old financial worker from a Shanghai joint-venture, came up with the name. She received A$2,000 (US$1,656) and a week-long trip for three people to Australia from the ANZ Bank, a main sponsor of the Australian Pavilion.
"We feel that this is a very suitable name for our mascot," said Peter Tesch, commissioner general for the Australian Pavilion.
"The character peng evokes a sentiment of glory and ambition in Chinese and is indicative of our desire for a successful Expo." he said.
Peng also sounds the same as a Chinese word for "friend" and conveys the deep personal and business links between Australia and China, he said.
Peng refers to a mytho-logical bird created by ancient Chinese philosopher Zhuang Zi. The huge bird can fly thousands of kilometers by slightly waving its wings.
The kookaburra is a native Australian bird that makes a sound like a raucous laugh.
"Clever and confident, with a cheeky and bold character, the kookaburra reflects the Australian personality. We look forward to the people of Shanghai getting to know Peng Peng, and through him learning more about his Australian home, in the lead-up to, and during the biggest World Expo in history" said Tesch.
More than 2,800 entries were received in the competition and thousands more voted on the name.
Chen Yue, a 27-year-old financial worker from a Shanghai joint-venture, came up with the name. She received A$2,000 (US$1,656) and a week-long trip for three people to Australia from the ANZ Bank, a main sponsor of the Australian Pavilion.
"We feel that this is a very suitable name for our mascot," said Peter Tesch, commissioner general for the Australian Pavilion.
"The character peng evokes a sentiment of glory and ambition in Chinese and is indicative of our desire for a successful Expo." he said.
Peng also sounds the same as a Chinese word for "friend" and conveys the deep personal and business links between Australia and China, he said.
Peng refers to a mytho-logical bird created by ancient Chinese philosopher Zhuang Zi. The huge bird can fly thousands of kilometers by slightly waving its wings.
The kookaburra is a native Australian bird that makes a sound like a raucous laugh.
"Clever and confident, with a cheeky and bold character, the kookaburra reflects the Australian personality. We look forward to the people of Shanghai getting to know Peng Peng, and through him learning more about his Australian home, in the lead-up to, and during the biggest World Expo in history" said Tesch.
More than 2,800 entries were received in the competition and thousands more voted on the name.
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