With the recent news that Clyde, the face of the Glasgow 2014 Games, will be stepping aside to make room for a new mascot for the Glasgow 2026 Games, what better time to present a rundown our favourite Games mascots. Here’s a list of the famous, the forgotten and the unexpected, all part of our wonderful Commonwealth Games Scotland Archive.
5. Wee Mannie
The first official Commonwealth Games mascot was not launched until 1978 when Keano the bear graced the 1978 Games in Edmonton, Canada. However the first attempt to create an official Games mascot occurred in Edinburgh in 1970. The September 1969 issue of the Games Newsletter unveiled an energetic new cartoon character dressed in a kilt and tartan cap. Referred to as ‘Wee Mannie’ (as he had not yet been given a name) he was described as “a fun figure for toys and souvenirs of a lighter vein”. Unfortunately ‘Wee Mannie’ was quietly dropped from the promotional campaign before the Games due to a lukewarm public reception. While no toys or figurines were produced the Games memorabilia produced for Edinburgh does retain traces of the character with his image to be found on commemorative postcards and tea towels.
4. Klee Wyck
Many of the most memorable Games mascots represent animals with a close association with the host city. In 1994 Victoria reflected the maritime heritage of British Columbia by looking to the sea for inspiration. Their mascot, named Klyee Wyck, was an orca whale described in the official guidebook to the Games as “an orca whale who lives in the Pacific Ocean off Vancouver Island’s shores, and in our imaginations. This intelligent, sociable and graceful animal is native to Canadian waters and symbolizes the beauty and vitality of BC’s heritage and coastal lore.” The name Klyee Wyck was taken from the Nuu-Chah_Nulth people’s language and translates as the laughing one, the mascot providing visitors with a friendly greeting to the Games.
3. Shiwi
Like Edinburgh in 1970 the organisers of the 1974 Christchurch Games were keen to have an official Games mascot. In October 1973 the New Zealand public were introduced to ‘Shiwi’ a fluffy creature described as the result of “a chance meeting between a kiwi and a sheep,” The public response was lukewarm, a letter to the local press describing the mascot as “a frivolous, flightless, five-dollar fancy.” Like Edinburgh’s ‘Wee Mannie’ this mascot was quietly dropped before the start of the competition, but not before a small run of cuddly toys were produced. In the spring of 2025 we were delighted to add a Shiwi to our collection (and complete our mascot set!), discovered by one of our supporters in Canada and kindly donated to the archive.
2. Matilda
Australia has provided some of the Games most memorable mascots with Karak, the cockatoo, in Melbourne in 2006 and Borobi, the surfing Koala Bear in Gold Coast in 2018. Australia’s first Games mascot was 1982’s Matilda the kangaroo. The 1982 Games fully embraced the mascot’s potential with a huge range of toys and souvenirs being produced. The opening ceremony for the Games featured a memorable 13 metre tall animated model of Matilda, which was accompanied by a group of 20 dancing children dressed as joeys. Like its wild cousin this giant Matilda roamed around Queensland appearing in various locations across the state in the years following the Games. Today, it’s a popular landmark at the Traveston Service Station in Gympie on the Sunshine Coast.
1. Clyde
Our top spot had to go to Glasgow’s own Clyde, a familiar figure in the city both during and after the 2014 Games. The spiky thistle, designed by 12 year old Beth Gilmour from Cumbernauld, was an energetic ambassador for the Games. Named after the river which runs through the city, his popularity was demonstrated by the huge sales of mascots and merchandise. As lasting an image of 2014 as the ‘People Make Glasgow’ slogan Clyde sets a high bar for his soon to be announced 2026 successor.
