Waldi was the first official Olympic mascot. Created for the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, he was a dachshund,
a popular breed of dog from Germany, which represent the attributes required for athletes - resistance, tenacity and
agility. Waldi was designed by Otl Aicher and modeled off a real dog, a long-haired Dachshund named Cherie von
Birkenhof. Waldi's head and tail were blue and his body was stripes of the other Olympic colors
Waldi", the dachshund. Very popular in Bavaria, but he also possesses qualities which are indispensable to an
athlete: resistance, tenacity and agility. These are among the reasons he was chosen to be the mascot. He was
dressed in pastel colors to express the gaiety and joy of the Olympic festival.
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