The name of the mascot for the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Bratislava and Kosice will be known soon.
In the first round, the fans were suggesting names via the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Facebook page. From all of them, the organizing committee have chosen two suggestions – Macejko and Juro, which made it to the final voting.
“The numbers were really interesting. The first phase of voting was launched in the mid-August and lasted seven days. In this period, almost 450,000 people, mainly from Slovakia, got involved. The mascot animation, launched shortly before the vote began, was seen by more than 143,000 people. The fans perceive the mascot in a positive way, maybe that is the reason we received more than 4,000 comments suggesting the bear’s name,” says the organizer’s Head of Communication, Michaela Grendelova.
The two best suggestions go to the second round of voting. “We have chosen the suggestion with the highest number of votes. Macejko with its variation Maco were the most suggested names. Another name we have chosen is Juro, which was also very popular among the fans. One criterion was the popularity of the name, the other one was Slovak nature of the name, so we can keep up with the visual, which is characterized by shepherd’s hat and the belt of outlaws,” said Michaela Grendelova. “The fans were suggesting also name Demo, as memory of legendary Pavol Demitra, but for understandable reasons, for the respect to Pavol and because of the cheerful mascot’s look, we have decided for a different name.”
The second round of voting, which will decide about the mascot’s name, begins on the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Facebook page today and will last until midnight of Sunday, 26 August 2018.
“The fans can vote for one of the names on the official social networks of the championship. The winning name of the mascot will be known on Monday, 27 August,” said the organizer’s Head of Marketing, Vladimir Jancek.
Those who will be voting have something to look forward to. The organizers will draw one person who voted for the name who will receive a 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship gift package. The second gift package will be given to the fan who was the first to suggest the winning name.
The team from Wiktor Leo Burnett agency was working on the new mascot. The creative process lasted several months and had various phases. At first they had to find a suitable symbol, then a suitable visual appearance, which had to fulfil production and communication criteria. At the end they finalized the artistic performance. The final mascot won among three proposals. They were deciding among ram, wolf, and bear.
The mascot has hockey equipment and accessories inspired by Slovak folklore. A shepherd’s belt and hat make him a real Slovak ready to face challenges. His ice hockey body posture is complemented by poses from Slovak folklore dances, which supports his national character. A bear as a mascot representing Slovakia symbolizes strength, bravery, and fighting spirit. At the same time it is a typical animal from our nature, and has an important position in Slovak folklore.
In the first round, the fans were suggesting names via the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Facebook page. From all of them, the organizing committee have chosen two suggestions – Macejko and Juro, which made it to the final voting.
“The numbers were really interesting. The first phase of voting was launched in the mid-August and lasted seven days. In this period, almost 450,000 people, mainly from Slovakia, got involved. The mascot animation, launched shortly before the vote began, was seen by more than 143,000 people. The fans perceive the mascot in a positive way, maybe that is the reason we received more than 4,000 comments suggesting the bear’s name,” says the organizer’s Head of Communication, Michaela Grendelova.
The two best suggestions go to the second round of voting. “We have chosen the suggestion with the highest number of votes. Macejko with its variation Maco were the most suggested names. Another name we have chosen is Juro, which was also very popular among the fans. One criterion was the popularity of the name, the other one was Slovak nature of the name, so we can keep up with the visual, which is characterized by shepherd’s hat and the belt of outlaws,” said Michaela Grendelova. “The fans were suggesting also name Demo, as memory of legendary Pavol Demitra, but for understandable reasons, for the respect to Pavol and because of the cheerful mascot’s look, we have decided for a different name.”
The second round of voting, which will decide about the mascot’s name, begins on the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Facebook page today and will last until midnight of Sunday, 26 August 2018.
“The fans can vote for one of the names on the official social networks of the championship. The winning name of the mascot will be known on Monday, 27 August,” said the organizer’s Head of Marketing, Vladimir Jancek.
Those who will be voting have something to look forward to. The organizers will draw one person who voted for the name who will receive a 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship gift package. The second gift package will be given to the fan who was the first to suggest the winning name.
The team from Wiktor Leo Burnett agency was working on the new mascot. The creative process lasted several months and had various phases. At first they had to find a suitable symbol, then a suitable visual appearance, which had to fulfil production and communication criteria. At the end they finalized the artistic performance. The final mascot won among three proposals. They were deciding among ram, wolf, and bear.
The mascot has hockey equipment and accessories inspired by Slovak folklore. A shepherd’s belt and hat make him a real Slovak ready to face challenges. His ice hockey body posture is complemented by poses from Slovak folklore dances, which supports his national character. A bear as a mascot representing Slovakia symbolizes strength, bravery, and fighting spirit. At the same time it is a typical animal from our nature, and has an important position in Slovak folklore.