Olympia. Getting started

Gather around, everyone...

And I'll tell you a story. A story that you probably never heard. A story that is as real as the ground beneath our feet, as ancient as the sun itself, yet as fresh as the dew on the morning grass. A story of a land that we all know but never knew was there.

A story of our country, the country named Olympia.

Once upon a time, when the grass was greener, the trees were taller, and the prices were lower, there was an Olympic Five.

They were an unusual bunch, indeed. Smoky, a black dog from LA, Kapa, a timid kappa from Tokyo, Schuss, a daring skier from the Alps, Chac-Mool, a red jaguar from Mexico, and Takuchan, a clever bear cub from Sapporo. Paloma, a pure white dove and a friend of Chac-Mool, often joined them, fluttering her wings and bringing them news from distant lands.

Their job was to make sure the Olympics went off without a hitch and that everyone had a good time. They weren't just there to be cute, they were there to make sure everyone played fair and played together. They even looked for others to be mascots like them!

One fateful day, they went to Munich. They were looking for another mascot here.

And there they found Waldi, the colourful dachshund, mascot of the 1972 Munich Olympics. He was the heart and soul of the games, bringing joy to everyone with his boundless energy and cheerful demeanour.

Waldi had two cousins: Lumpi and Franz. Lumpi was a clumsy but lovable young dachshund, and Franz was a proud and disciplined dachshund.

The Five quickly became friends with them, and Waldi showed them around the bustling city, filled with the excitement of the Olympic Games.

They wanted to stay there until the end of the Olympics, when suddenly...

The air grew thick with tension, and a shadow fell over the games. It was the 5th of September, 1972, and a terrible event was unfolding in the Olympic Village.

The Munich massacre was its name.

The Olympic Five watched in horror as their newfound friend's world was torn apart by the cruel hands of terrorism. Athletes, who had come to compete in the spirit of peace, were now caught in a nightmare none could have imagined.

The Olympic Five could not stay in Munich. They had to flee Germany.

They ran through the dark forests, through the flowing rivers, and over the towering mountains. They saw the bright sun and the pale moon again and again. They were tired, but they didn't stop. They had to find a place where Waldi could be safe and happy.

Finally, they reached Mount Olympus. This mountain is the home of the gods and goddesses of the ancient Greek world. The gods accepted the wanderers. They let them live in a small shelter on the mountain.

And so, a few days have passed. The friends already wanted to return to Munich so that Waldi could go home. But one thought stopped them: the Olympics were already over, and no one was waiting for Waldi anymore.

And Waldi probably wouldn't be the only one. What if future Olympic mascots faced the same fate? Their hearts ached for all those who'd come after, left behind when it was all over, forgotten by a world that once loved them fiercely.

But then, Smokey had an idea. "We can't just leave it like this," he said, his voice firm. "We need to create a place for all the mascots to call home. A place where the spirit of the Olympics can live on, beyond the games themselves."

The Five liked the idea. The gods of Olympus heard their thoughts and decided to help. They gave the earth in the bowels of the mountain. This land was lifeless, but it had a spirit, a spirit that longed to be filled with life and joy again.