Phryge the Paris 2024 Olympic mascot – but how do you pronounce it?
I’ve been popping into one of the 16 Paris 2024 Olympic Fan Zones around the capital where people can watch Olympic events on a big screen in a designated area.
I asked a four-year old French girl at the Fan Zone if she had seen the Olympic mascot. Did she have a selfie with the mascot? Sandrine had not seen the mascot – the red Olympic Phryge. I hadn’t seen the mascot either in the Fan Zone, but I did see the Phryge in the handball stadium.
The Phryge mascot is in the shape of a Phrygian hat, a symbol of freedom in France. It’s also known as the liberty cap. I had a red tote bag with the Phryge on it slung around my shoulder and Sandrine recognized the mascot. I said it looked funny and she said it looked French. I think she was right.
Sandrine also corrected my French. The mascot is not pronounced Frig! Nor Fridge! Phryge is pronounced free-juh. Free-juh! Fast – it’s Freeje! Freeje!
