Mascot 'Calidoso' (© Agencia Marabunta)
After a very close competition, the mascot of the XIX Athletics World Championship U-20 Cali 2022, was chosen. Andrés Camilo Gutiérrez Marín is the creator of 'CALIDOSO'. This was the most outstanding of the eight finalist proposals that went through a public voting stage on the World Championships social networks.
We introduce you our cheerful, agile and determined feline, who with passion and tenacity will carry the flags of the U-20 Athletics World Championships Cali 2022, who will share the culture of Valle del Cauca in all parts of the world, and that is inspired by the Cat of the river, by maestro Hernando Tejada, a symbol of Cali creativity. It also represents chontaduro, a typical fruit of the Pacific culture.
The president of the Organizing Committee of the World Championships, Ramiro Varela, expressed that: "The world learned of a transparent, sporting, technological and environmental process, which decided on the most representative of the city, from the point of view of its nature" and named the Caleño as WARM another way to define Calidoso, so that popular term will be used during the World Championships.
The Executive Director of the event, Ivanna Velilla, emphasized the importance of the election: “It is a huge opportunity to bring many people closer to the World Championships and make them identify with the cultural proposal included in the event. The mascot is a character that will represent the operating committee, the city, and the athletes and will give a face to this historic event”.
“The election process lasted a month. First, an open call was made and we received more than 80 proposals that met the requirements: these were evaluated by two members of World Athletics, a member of the Ministry of Sports, a member of the Secretary of Sports, a representative of INDERVALLE and two of Local Organizing Committee, who chose the best 8 through scores”, added Velilla.
The proposals of this group of finalists were uploaded to Instagram where the comment was worth 2 points and a like was equivalent to 1 point. These were validated only if the person issuing them was following the World Championships profile on Instagram.
From the Organizing Committee we want to thank everyone who was part of this process.
Communications U20W Cali 2022