The 31st SEA Games, hosted by Vietnam, will officially kick off in Hanoi in May 2022. Many young people are curious about what the mascot for this Southeast Asian sports event is and why it was chosen.
Artist Ngo Xuan Khoi (right), the creator of the SEA Games 31 mascot design. (Photo: NVCC)
The official mascot for the 31st SEA Games has been announced: it is the Saola. The creator of this cheerful symbol (mascot) is artist Ngo Xuan Khoi, who won first place in the mascot design competition for both the SEA Games 31 and Para Games 11.
Why was the Saola chosen, and what meaningful message does this mascot convey? Artist Ngo Xuan Khoi shared his thoughts with Thanh Nien newspaper:
Why the Saola and not another animal, sir?
In 2019, when I learned about the logo and mascot design competition for the SEA Games 31, which Vietnam was hosting, I was very excited to participate, even though I knew the competition would be fierce. The media had predicted that this would be a vibrant playground for young graphic designers.
I thought deeply, pondered, and considered many animals that were proposed. One night, I suddenly remembered an article I had read nearly 30 years ago about the world of biology being astonished by the discovery of a rare species in Central Vietnam. This animal is called the Saola. The discovery of the Saola shocked the world because scientists believed that finding a large mammal at the end of the 20th century was nearly impossible. I quickly went online to research, and the more I read, the more fascinated I became.
I created many sketches in pencil and then digitally rendered them on my computer. I adhered closely to the organizer’s requirements, focusing on Vietnamese identity, personification, and ease of plush toy production. From the time I read the announcement to when I completed my submission took only two weeks.
Saola – mascot of the SEA Games 31 held in Vietnam.
What were your feelings when you saw the adorable symbols you designed displayed throughout Hanoi and the 11 surrounding provinces during the SEA Games 31, and this image was widely shared across Southeast Asia?
I felt happy, proud, and emotional. The journey to have the Saola as the mascot for the SEA Games 31 was a wave of emotions. There were many ups and downs, and a lot of discussions and debates took place.
I am grateful to those who voted for the Saola, thankful for the years of accumulated life experiences, and my days of diligently reading newspapers. This is one of my most beautiful and memorable experiences with sports in my country and in my career as an artist. I have a deep affection for the mysterious and rare Saola, quietly living in the Truong Son mountain range, unaware that it would be mentioned so often these days.
The Significance of the SEA Games 31 Mascot
The Saola is a mascot that meets the criteria for composition, aesthetics, and meaning. It is also one of the rarest animals in the world, living in the forests of Vietnam and Laos. This species is classified as endangered in Vietnam’s Red Book.
Through the Saola mascot, friends in the region and internationally will learn more about the unique values that nature has bestowed upon Vietnam. Additionally, the V-shaped horns of the Saola, which are always straight and elongated, symbolize victory as well as represent Vietnam itself.
