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Meet the 2016 Olympic mascots

Rio 2016 mascots

It's only been a few months since Sochi, but it's already time to turn our attention to the Rio Olympics in 2016. We begin with the introduction of the two mascots for both the Olympic and Paralympic games.

Per Rio's website, the yellow fellow on the left is "a mixture of different Brazilian animals, blessed with their many qualities: the agility of the cats, the sway of the monkeys, the grace of the birds. With his keen sense of smell, he can sniff out exciting adventures. His incredible hearing allows him to find the most enthusiastic fans. He can imitate the voice of any animal." It's worth noting that "he would never use them to win a sporting competition. He knows that competing on equal terms is much cooler." Sure, HE does, but do all the Olympians?

The plantlike creature on the right "is a fusion of Brazil’s incredibly diverse plant life. His hair is made of tropical foliage and he is transforming all the time – like plants that are always moving, growing towards the sun and overcoming obstacles." Neither has a name yet, but that's coming as part of a vote and, probably, heavy-duty corporate sponsorship.

Here's a video on their creation:

The Rio Olympics begin August 5, 2016. Start clearing your schedule now.

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Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter.

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