Mascots have been a staple of the European Championships since 1980 when Italy introduced Pinocchio as the tournament’s first-ever mascot. Over the years, a variety of animals and cartoon characters have been chosen to represent the host nation and promote the event.
These mascots can be seen throughout the host cities, at stadiums, press rooms, and fan zones, and they often become the face of the tournament. Euro 2024 is no exception, with the introduction of Albart, a lovable teddy bear, as the tournament’s mascot.
What is the Euro 2024 Mascot?
Albart the Bear is the official mascot for the Euro 2024 tournament, hosted by Germany this summer. The name Albart was chosen through a vote conducted by UEFA in 2023, beating out other contenders such as Barnardo, Barnheart, and Herzi von Bar, all of which played on the German word for bear.
Albart has first introduced to German fans ahead of the national team’s friendly game against Colombia last June, and he has since been visiting primary schools across Germany and Europe to engage with young fans and promote the upcoming tournament.
According to UEFA, Albart’s goal is to inspire children across Europe to get active and encourage a love of football and its values. Former Bayern Munich and Germany defender Phillip Lahm, who is the Euro 2024 tournament director, said of the bear: “As a parent, I know how important it is to stimulate children’s imagination. With the launch of our tournament mascot, we hope to create a fun and likeable character that will inspire them to enjoy playing football.”
Albart has been travelling to schools across Europe, challenging pupils to use their physical activity to bring the mascot to life and make it move. Children will also have the opportunity to create their special skills and celebrations, which will be transformed into mascot animations for the tournament using cutting-edge motion capture technology.
Celia Sasic, EURO 2024 tournament ambassador and DFB vice-president said: “You can’t lay the foundations for motion, playfulness and team spirit early enough. It’s great to see UEFA inspiring the next generation to build self-confidence, live an active lifestyle and understand the importance team spirit – all important life lessons that will shape their future. This mascot will deliver that powerful message.”
