'Come on - we can do better than the bin chicken for our Olympics mascot'
OPINION -- A tongue-in-cheek suggestion from Queensland Sports Minister Stirling Hinchliffe to use the ibis as the 2032 Olympic Games is gathering momentum, and I want it stopped in its tracks.
It's incredibly Aussie to take the mickey out of ourselves and our country, but nominating the bin chicken as a mascot is a step too far.
You've got to remember this is taking the piss out of ourselves on an international scale, so it's a hard no from me.
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Shelly Horton isn't on board with nominating the ibis as the Brisbane 2032 Olympics mascot. Instagram, Getty
Of course, finding it hilarious, Today Show hosts Allison Langdon and Charles Croucher have run with it, throwing their support behind the tip turkey. Even David Campbell said he loves the idea. (Watch above.)
I am worried they may sway the public towards the dirty birds, and a bin chicken mascot could make it a reality.
So, we cannot make fun. It's as about as amusing as Tom Gleeson winning the gold Logie. We have a precedent.
I feel like a grumpy old lady saying, "See? This is why we can't have nice things" and, "Some things need to be shown a little bit of respect."
Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk got a giggle out of the idea before saying was "highly unlikely" the ibis would become the Games' mascot. "But I will let the public decide," the premier added.
Mascots have been a fixture at the Summer Olympic Games since 1972, with a wide range of characters chosen to play the role.
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The Sydney 2000 Olympic mascots Olly, Milly and Sid - no bin chickens in sight. Getty
Syd the platypus, Olly the kookaburra and Millie the echidna were selected as the three mascots for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.
Back in 2018, Borobie the koala was the mascot for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, and the massive winking Kangaroo, Matilda, was the mascot for the 1982 Commonwealth Games.
So, I think we should be going for the Platypus to get a solo gig this time.
Most people from overseas will think this is a made-up cartoon character, that it's not actually real — I think that will be a great talking point.
You'd then explain the Platypus is a small duck-billed amphibious mammal with webbed feet and fur, that lays eggs and doesn't have nipples, so it sweats milk to feed its babies, which are called puggles. That would be spectacular.
It's time for the platypus to have its solo moment in the spotlight. Getty Images/iStockphoto
So, bin the bin chicken as mascot for the 2032 Olympics and embrace the platypus instead.
Oh, and don't even get me started on a campaign launched last year to push for the Sunshine Coast's Big Pineapple to become the mascot for the 2032 Games. A fruit mascot that could be juiced? I think not.
