(Source: http://forum.electrostal.com)

Official symbols of Sochi 2014 Olympic Games were presented on December 1, 2009. Solemn presentation of Sochi Olympics mascots was held on Red Square in Moscow. The ice dancing Olympic champion Tatiana Navka and sports columnist Kirill Nabutov have been chosen as presenters of the event. 2014 Olympics mascots were represented personally by the President of the Games’ Organizing Committee, Dmitry Chernyshenko. Symbols of the Sochi 2014 Olympics were introduced to the public to numerous fireworks and cheers. Owing to a specially organized teleconference, the residents of the Olympics host city could also enjoy 2014 Olympics mascots’ presentation show led by popular TV presenter Andrey Malakhov. Lev Leshchenko and Alsou performed a duet of legendary 'Song of Olympic Mishka'. The scenes of the closing ceremony of Moscow 1980 Summer Games were shown on the large screen.

The Polar Bear lives in ice igloo beyond distant Arctic Circle. His house is built entirely from ice and snow. The emblem of Sochi 2014 always hangs on the wall. There is а bed, computer, snow shower and even an exercise machine to make Bear always stay fit. Thanks to it, Bear learned to ski, play curling and skating. Most of all he likes sledding.

Leopard lives on the branches of a huge tree growing on a snowy rock in the Caucasus Mountains. He is a rescuer by vocation and is always ready to help. There is a rumor that he helped more than once to protect foothill villages from avalanches, for which he was awarded an honorary Sochi 2014 emblem. As Leopard snowboards very well, he taught all his friends doing this sport. This mascot is notable for his cheerful disposition and liking big companies.

Zaika is famous for being the most active dweller of the Olympic Village. Everyone is wondering – how does she manage to be everywhere?! She is not only an excellent student in Forest Academy, but also a reliable assistant in 'Forest dam' family restaurant and permanent participant of sporting events. On her neck, she has a butterfly with the emblem of 2014 Sochi Olympics. In addition, this 2014 Olympics mascot loves to sing and dance.

Snow Girl and Fire Boy were chosen as mascots of Sochi Paralympic Games. The Fire Boy came from the hottest planet and Snow Girl from the frozen one. Even though we are totally different, we have a lot in common. We like to inspire special people to accomplish special achievements!  We help earthlings to discover their fantastic capabilities! For the first time in the history of the Olympic Games, the Olympics mascots were selected through an open general voting, which resulted in the largest number of votes received by Polar Bear, Leopard and Zaika.

More than 270 thousand respondents took part in the voting. The Sochi 2014 Olympics mascot in the form of a skiing dolphin didn’t make quite a bit to the top three.  The entire list of contenders for the right to become symbols of the Sochi 2014 Olympics was the following: Ded Moroz, Matryoshka, Bullfinch, Dolphin, Leopard, Brown Bear, Little Sun, Fire Boy, Snow Girl, White Bear and Zaika.

By the way, it is Sochi residents, who in November 2010 nominated Leopard as a mascot of the 2014 Olympics. The author of the image is Vadim Pak, who lives in Nakhodka. Many people found out some similarities between Barsik, the Olympic Leopard and Uni, the snow leopard, the symbol of Kazan Universiade 2013. Below are the pictures of all pretenders for the mascots of the 2014 Sochi Olympics.