©IOC

Many factors led to the choice of Amik the beaver as the mascot of the Montreal Olympic Games. This animal, known for its patience and hard work, is closely linked to the history of Canada. Furthermore, it appears in the arms of Montreal, the host city of the Games. Also, the beaver fur trade between Europe and America contributed greatly to the development of Canada from the 16th century onwards.

For the record, the choice of the name “Amik” for the mascot was based on several criteria. Firstly, it was a short name that could be easily pronounced in every language. Furthermore, it had an interesting origin – it is a word in Algonquin, the most widely-spoken language among the Canadian indigenous people.