Nanjing Youth Olympics mascot veiled

Nanjing's special product riverstone has been unveiled as the mascot for the 2014 Youth Olympic Games here.

The pebble mascot named NANJINGLELE was unveiled on a big ceremony here on Thursday.

The word "lele" represents the sound of stones colliding together and is pronounced like the Chinese word meaning happiness or joy, organizers said.

Nanjing has been famous for its colorful riverstones or Rain-Flower Pebble as Chinese call them.

International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge said the mascot design was "inspiring".

"The design of NANJINGLELE is truly inspiring and will certainly capture the attention of the world's youth and older generations alike. Not only does it incorporate aspects of the host city's majestic local stone, the riverstone, but it is bright and vibrant and sets the tone for a fun, colourful and energetic YOG," he said in a letter sent to the organizers.

NANJINGLELE was chosen following a nationwide mascot design competition launched by NYOGOC earlier this year. More than 1.2 million students from more than 900 colleges across China participated in the competition.