©IOC

Schneemann was created for the 1976 Innsbruck Olympic Games. He was a friendly snowman with a red Tyrolean hat, recalling the region where the Winter Games were held for the second time (after the 1964 edition). The first official mascot created for a winter edition of the OG, Schneemann can also be considered as a lucky charm. Indeed, as the lack of snow gave the organisers of the 1964 Games nightmares (the Austrian army was even called in as reinforcements to bring in snow!), the worst was feared for 1976. Finally, there were no problems, and the 1976 Innsbruck Games were a success.