Amik is the mascot of the

1976 Summer Olympics The 1976 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad () and officially branded as Montreal 1976 (), were an international multi-sport event held from July 17 to August 1, 1976, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Montreal ...

. In the

Algonquin language Algonquin (also spelled Algonkin; in Algonquin: or ) is either a distinct Algonquian languages, Algonquian language closely related to the Ojibwe language or a particularly divergent Ojibwe language dialects, Ojibwe dialect. It is spoken, alon ...

, ''amik'' means "beaver." A national competition was held to name it. The beaver or "amik" was chosen as mascot because it is an animal strongly associated with

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

, the country where the games were held. The beaver also represents hard work. Amik came with either a red stripe with the logo of the Montreal Olympics or a multicoloured ribbon representing the Montreal Olympic Organizing Committee. Amik was designed by Guy St-Arnaud, Yvon Laroche, and Pierre-Yves Pelletier, under the direction of Georges Huel.

References

Olympic mascots Rodent mascots Fictional beavers 1976 Summer Olympics Mascots introduced in 1976 Canadian mascots Fictional characters from Montreal {{rodent-stub