The 2018 Commonwealth Games to be held on the Gold Coast has its official Aussie mascot, and it’s a blue koala.
Borobi the blue koala takes his name from an indigenous word for koala, and loves hanging ten in the surf and chasing adrenalin-pumping adventures.
Borobi arrived on the Gold Coast on Monday by helicopter where Aussie surf champ Mark Occhilupo greeted him on Burleigh Heads beach.
The koala has the lucrative job of selling millions of dollars in merchandise for Australia, with Borobi expected to appear on everything from flags and hats to stubby holders and t-shirts. He even has his own Twitter account and video on YouTube.
You can’t be this cute with no substance! Check out my story now. #BOROBI #GC2018 https://t.co/a4EUac3Unc
— Borobi (@borobi2018) April 3, 2016
Borobi was inspired by a drawing from Brisbane school teacher Merrilyn Krohn who won the mascot design competition, with his bright blue colouring meant to portray the colour of the ocean.
“An idea came to mind as soon as I heard about the competition,” Krohn told AAP. “I add drawings into my teaching. It’s part of connecting with the children and having a laugh with them.”
Borobi joins the hall of fame alongside two other memorable Aussie mascots from previous hosting duties, including Matilda at the Brisbane 1982 Commonwealth Games and Karak, a south-eastern Red-tailed Black Cockatoo in Melbourne in 2006.
Today marks exactly two years to the Games’ opening ceremony, with the $320 million construction program on track and on budget, according to the Queensland government.
