How not to have an Olympic mascot nightmare

Above: 2008 Olympics mascots ready for merchandising: Beibei the fish, Jingjing the panda, Huanhuan the Olympic flame (because kids love playing with fire), Yingying the antelope and Nini the swallow.

BBC News reports on the history of appallingly designed mascots. The 2008 mascots -- yes, there are more than just one -- carry on in that tradition.

"In 2000, Syd the platypus, Ollie the kookaburra and Millie the echidna were not particularly well received. And the vaguely sinister-looking trio found themselves more marginalised as the games went on. There was competition from Fatso the wombat, a very unofficial mascot, who by the end of the games was the more recognisable figure for many."

The BBC requests that you please send in your designs for the 2012 Olympics mascots which will be lots better than any of these, you bet!