1972 Olympics in Munich: How dachshund Waldi conquered the world
Created: 01/19/2022, 07:00
By: Sophia Oberhuber
Munich resident Uschi Badenberg in a dirndl with various versions of the dachshund "Waldi", the mascot of the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.
© dpa Olympic photo
50 years of the Olympic Games in Munich: He came in big, small, made of wood, as a stuffed animal, on wheels.
The mascot "Waldi" inspired the people of Munich in 1972 - why dachshunds are still so popular today
Munich – It is 52 centimeters long, fits on the arm and does not need any movement.
In the Olympic summer of 1972, a special plush dog snuggled into the hearts of Munich residents: Olympia-Waldi.
The dachshund was the first official mascot of an Olympics.
The colorful design of the "Waldi" in the Olympic colors came from the graphic designer Otl Aicher's office.
© Heinz Gebhardt
The idea for the mascot didn't originally come from a fancy graphic designer's office.
It was made at a Christmas party.
On December 15, 1969, the Organizing Committee of the Games met with Willi Daume, President of the Committee.
Daume was a proud dachshund owner himself.
Olympia-Waldi was born, or at least the idea behind it.
Graphic designer Otl Aicher's team designed the mascot for the 1972 Olympics in Munich
The implementation took place in the team of one of the most influential German graphic designers: Otl Aicher.
He created the basic design of the Olympiad, with its bright colors, clean lines, and pictograms.
Elena Schwaiger, then Winschermann, was responsible for the souvenirs - and also for the Zamperl cuddly toy.
The design was available in different sizes and also in many other versions.
For example, Waldi was also available in wood, on wheels, or as a puzzle.
Munich in dachshund fever: At the inauguration of the pedestrian zone in 1972 there was a Zamperl parade
Olympia-Waldi had a real four-legged alter ego with a dachshund look.
At the topping-out ceremony for the Olympic Stadium, Daume presented this dachshund named Cherie von Birkenhof to the President of the International Sports Press Association, Félix Lévitan.
Willi Daume hands over the living example of the Olympic mascot to Félix Levitan, President of the International Sports Press Association.
© Heinz Gebhardt www.muenchenfoto.de
Munich was in dachshund fever around the Olympics*.
It is therefore not surprising that a Zamperl parade took place at the inauguration of the pedestrian zone in 1972.
On a January day, around 1,500 dachshunds walked with their masters and mistresses through Munich's new pedestrian zone.
Mayor Hans-Jochen Vogel ran with his own dachshund.
Dachshund parade at the opening of Munich's pedestrian zone in January 1972 © Heinz Gebhardt www.muenchenfoto.de
The dachshund is still popular in Munich today - it ranks eighth among the most popular dog breeds
Even today, the dachshund is still one of the most popular dog breeds in Munich.
According to AGILA pet insurance, he currently occupies eighth place among the dogs insured in
Munich
*.
The dachshund is said to be a clever, playful and independent creature.
Monika Hoffmann, chairwoman of the Munich section of the Bavarian Dachshund Club, is not surprised that the dog breed is so popular among Munich residents.
"It's because the dachshund is said to have certain qualities from the ground up.
You are so human, question everything.
Dachshunds are clowns and incredibly independent,” enthuses Hoffmann.
In addition, the dachshund is also known as a "practical" dog because of its robustness.
Monika Hoffmann from the Bavarian Dachshund Club with her dachshund Jasper.
© private
A new edition of the Waldi is planned for the 50th anniversary of the Olympic Games in Munich
The program for the 50th anniversary of the Summer Games* aims to revive the "cheerful" feeling of the Olympics.
And so the Olympia-Waldi will celebrate his comeback.
In summer there will be a new edition of the popular cuddly toy.
The "new" Waldi is based on the original draft by Elena Schwaiger and was coordinated with the graphic designer.
Around 1,500 little Waldis are then looking for a new home in the anniversary summer of the Games.
*tz.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA
