Tokyo Olympics organizers unveil the mascot for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics selected by popular vote by elementary students across Japan at the Hoyonomori Gakuen School in Tokyo, Japan, February 28, 2018.(Photo/Agencies)
The mascots for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and Paralympic Games made their first appearance before the public on the naming ceremony on Sunday.
The blue-and-white Olympic mascot was named Miraitowa, a combination of Japanese words meaning future (Mirai) and eternity (towa).
The pink-checkered Paralympics mascot was named Someity, which comes from the design of its appearance, Somei Yoshino, a most popular variety of cherry blossom in Japan. The pronunciation of its name is also similar to "so mighty" in English.
"I think a very worthy name has been picked not only for Tokyo, but for Japan as well as the Olympics and Paralympics," said Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike who unveiled the mascots' names together with Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee President Yoshiro Mori at the ceremony.
The two futuristic mascots with superpowers were selected by 109,041 elementary kids from across the country out of a shortlist of three competitors.
The Tokyo Olympics are scheduled for July 24 to August 9, 2020.
