Whatizit

Olympic mascot

Also known as: Izzy

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Last updated

July 16, 2026

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Whatizit, also known as Izzy, was the mascot for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. It was described as an "abstract fantasy figure" and its name originated from people asking "What is it?". Unlike many other mascots derived from local characters or animals, Whatizit was a rather amorphous and uncertain figure. The concept of Olympic mascots began with the 1972 Munich Games' dachshund, Waldi, and has since become a tradition for each host country to feature a distinctive mascot.1

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Olympic Games
Mascots
The strangest mascot was Whatizit, or Izzy, of the 1996 Games in Atlanta, Georgia, a rather amorphous “abstract fantasy figure.” His name comes from people asking “What is it?” He gained more features as the months went by, but his uncertain character and origins contrast strongly with the Athena…
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The strangest mascot was Whatizit, or Izzy, of the 1996 Games in Atlanta, Georgia, a rather amorphous “abstract fantasy figure.” His name comes from people asking “What is it?” He gained more features as the months went by, but his uncertain character and origins contrast strongly with the Athena…
Read More