TheAFC Asian Cup began to use mascots for the first time in 2000 whenNour, a sparrow, was used for the2000 AFC Asian Cup in Lebanon. Before 2000, the tournament did not feature mascots due to differences in regions and cultures affecting on the decision of several host nations in the continent, as well as a lack of interest.[1] Since then, with the exception of 2007 edition, every Asian Cup has featured one or more mascots for the tournament. The mascot for the Asian Cup is also very diverse, based on cultural heritage of the host country.
Nour was a sparrow bringing the song of peace and development, as well as harmony and fair play, reflecting the situation of Lebanon at the time. The country was devastated by theLebanese Civil War and the tournament was considered as a symbol for the beauty prevailing after those times of peril.
Bei Bei, a Chinesemonkey, was fun-loving, friendly and colorful, yet brilliant in playing football. He is a proud symbol of Chinese culture and of the year 2004, which was theYear of the Monkey in China.
They were a family of fivejerboas, a rodent found in the deserts ofQatar. Saboog is named after the term used to refer to a jerboa in Qatar. while the other four characters are named after different locations in the north, south, east and west of Qatar.
Also known as "Nutmeg the Wombat", he was awombat native to the host nationAustralia. He wore the colours of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, red and yellow. He was named after a skill in football where a player dribbles the ball through an opponent's legs, known as anutmeg.
