COOLY –A Swiss Sports Icon
The idea of using a cow as the mascot originated in 2006 within the context of the 2009 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Bern and Kloten, on the initiative of Gian Gilli, then General Secretary of the tournament.
Within Infront Sports & Media’s creative development for the event, Roy Wedema was responsible for the creative and visual development of the character design, including the initial concept sketches and the original visual identity of Cooly the cow.
The design was then translated into a physical mascot costume by the Canadian company Création Animation Mascottes / Mascottes.ca, who also provided performers for live event activation.
Following its debut at the 2009 World Championship, Cooly was further developed and reused across several sporting events, including the 2014 European Athletics Championships in Zurich, where it supported event communication and audience engagement. Over time, Cooly became a recognisable symbol of Swiss sporting culture, combining humour, athletic expression, and tradition.
From dancing in stadiums to taking on hurdles, Cooly entertains crowds with energy and charm, earning international praise, including from the BBC, who asked:
“Is Cooly Cow the best mascot ever?
See Cooly in action – A selection of YouTube videos showcasing Cooly's highlights from the Ice Hockey World Championships and the 2014 European Athletics Championships in Zurich.
Costume by Créations Animation Mascottes Inc. // Character: COOLY // Design by RoyWedemaDesign // Official mascot of the 2014 European Athletics Championships, Zurich // Photo courtesy of KEYSTONE
Costume by Créations Animation Mascottes Inc. // Character: COOLY // Design by RoyWedemaDesign // Official mascot of the 2014 European Athletics Championships, Zurich // Photo courtesy of KEYSTONE
Costume by Créations Animation Mascottes Inc. // Character: COOLY // Design by RoyWedemaDesign // Official mascot of the 2014 European Athletics Championships, Zurich // Photo courtesy of KEYSTONE
COOLY // Design by RoyWedemaDesign // Official mascot of the 2014 European Athletics Championships, Zurich
COOLY // Design by RoyWedemaDesign // Official mascot of the 2014 European Athletics Championships, Zurich
COOLY // Design by RoyWedemaDesign // Official mascot of the 2014 European Athletics Championships, Zurich
COOLY // Design by RoyWedemaDesign // Official mascot of the 2014 European Athletics Championships, Zurich
Creative Direction
Mascot Design
Development