Robot triplets unveiled as Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games mascot

Hangzhou - Mascots Congcong, Lianlian and Chenchen were introduced to the public in an online launch ceremony

Three sporty robots representing the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Hangzhou in eastern China were on Friday unveiled as the official mascots of the 2022 Asian Games.
With social distancing measures still in place due to coronavirus outbreak, mascots Congcong, Lianlian and Chenchen were introduced to the public in an online launch ceremony, designed to showcase the technical prowess of Hangzhou and Zhejiang Province.
The robot Congcong represents the archaeological ruins of Liangzhu City. It derives its name from the Cong jade pendant - the quintessential relic unearthed from the ruins dating back 5,000 years. It takes yellow, the colour of earth and bumper harvest, as the main tone. Lianlian represents the West Lake and the name signifies a lake full of lush lotus leaves. Green stands for life and nature. The third mascot is Chenchen, which represents the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. It takes its name from the Gongchen Bridge - a landmark structure in the Hangzhou section of the Grand Canal. Blue represents science and technology.
The Olympic Council of Asia's 19th Asian Games will be held in Hangzhou from September 10 to 25, 2022 and will be the third Asian Games to be hosted by China following Beijing 1990 and Guangzhou 2010, with the participation of 45 NOCs of Asia in 42 sports.
From Xinhua agency:
The mascots of the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou were officially unveiled here on Friday.
With Covid-19 social distancing measures still in place, mascots Congcong, Lianlian and Chenchen were introduced to the public in an online launch ceremony, designed to showcase the technical prowess of Hangzhou and Zhejiang Province.
The launch ceremony featured a musical performance that paid homage to Hangzhou's three World Heritage sites, namely the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu Culture, the West Lake and the Grand Canal, hinting at the source of inspiration for the mascots' design.
In a letter, Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah, President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), praised the mascots as vibrant and content-rich, integrating Chinese culture, characteristics of the city of Hangzhou and the spirit of Asian Games and the Asian Continent.
"The mascots will surely be liked by all, especially the youth of Asia," he said, adding that he hoped they would bring joy and good health to Asia and the world.
"We will prevail in our battle against the Covid-19 pandemic very soon and look to advance the sports movement in Asia," he predicted.
Chen Weiqiang, vice president of the organizing committee and vice mayor of Hangzhou, was equally effusive in his assessment of the mascots.
"They not only register the joy of sports but also represent the distinction of cultural and economic development, so much so that they are in line with the character of Hangzhou and echo the emblem and slogan of the Hangzhou Asian Games."
"The three mascots will serve as the envoys of the Olympic spirit, peace, and friendship. Together, they are calling out to Asia and the world, inviting everyone to meet in Hangzhou for the Asian Games in 2022," Chen said.