Smoky (Olympic mascot)

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Frank Wykoff and Agnes Weber holding "Smoky" [1]

Smoky (1931 or 1932 ? April 1934), occasionally spelled Smokey , was a dog who became the mascot of the 1932 Summer Olympic Village and later the event as a whole. [2] He is often considered the first Olympic mascot . [3]

Smoky appeared early on in the construction of the Olympic Village, with some sources claiming he was born on the same day that work on the Village began on 2 January 1932. [4] [5] [6] He was a small black dog of uncertain ancestry, believed to be a combination of Scottish terrier , bulldog , Australian sheep dog along with other breeds. He became extremely popular with all visiting Olympic delegations. [7] He survived a couple of broken legs. He posed with athletes from all nations and was given a blanket on which were pinned medals, pins and badges of many nations. [6] Smoky briefly went missing on 14 July, with it claimed that "noted athletes from all over the world mourn his absence". [7] However, he returned the next day. [5]

After the games Smoky was adopted by Cynthia and Clark Smith and became a family pet. [8] [6] In April 1934 he was he was run over and killed by an unknown speeding motorist. [6] [9]

See also [ edit ]

References [ edit ]

  1. ^ "As East and West Prepare for Olympic Classic at Los Angeles Next Summer" . The Pittsburgh Press . 1 May 1932. p. 25 . Retrieved 17 August 2023 .
  2. ^ "Those Loony Olympic Mascots: Smoky, Los Angeles 1932" . Time . 13 March 2012.
  3. ^ "Three Critters Join Salt Lake Effort" . The Leaf-Chronicle . 16 May 1999. p. 25 . Retrieved 17 August 2023 .
  4. ^ Downing, Sam. "Why the first Olympic mascot was greater than any modern mascot" . www.nine.com.au . Retrieved 17 August 2023 .
  5. ^ a b " 'Smokey', Mascot of Games City, Returns" . The San Francisco Examiner . 16 July 1932. p. 14 . Retrieved 17 August 2023 .
  6. ^ a b c d "Smoky, Olympic Mascot, Dead" . The Los Angeles Times . 12 April 1934. p. 29 . Retrieved 17 August 2023 .
  7. ^ a b "Athletes Mourn Loss of 'Smokey' Mascot" . The San Bernardino County Sun . 15 July 1932. p. 18 . Retrieved 17 August 2023 .
  8. ^ "Smoky Quits Olympic Village: Mascot Settles Down in New Home" . The Los Angeles Times . 23 September 1932. p. 36 . Retrieved 17 August 2023 .
  9. ^ "Smoky the Olympic village mascot in 1932, is dead" . The Des Moines Register . 20 April 1934. p. 17 . Retrieved 17 August 2023 .
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