Sam (Olympic mascot)
Encyclopedia
Sam the Olympic Eagle is the mascot of the 1984 Summer Olympics
which were held in Los Angeles
. He is a bald eagle
, which is the national bird of the United States
, where the games were held. He also shares the name of Uncle Sam
, another American symbol. Sam was designed by C. Robert Moore, an artist for Disney. This character is sometimes confused for Eagle Sam, host of the former Disneyland attraction America Sings
, and designed by animator Marc Davis circa 1973, or Sam the Eagle
from The Muppet Show
. However, he is known as Eagle Sam in Japan
, where an animated series of the same name ran in the year preceding the Summer Olympics.
Even after the conclusion of the Games, Sam the Eagle is still used to promote a track and field
event, the Mt. SAC Relays at Mt. San Antonio College
, specifically its "LA84
Youth Days" promotion for youth interested in athletics, run by a charitable group founded during the Olympics.
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
which were held in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. He is a bald eagle
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
, which is the national bird of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where the games were held. He also shares the name of Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam is a common national personification of the American government originally used during the War of 1812. He is depicted as a stern elderly man with white hair and a goatee beard...
, another American symbol. Sam was designed by C. Robert Moore, an artist for Disney. This character is sometimes confused for Eagle Sam, host of the former Disneyland attraction America Sings
America Sings
America Sings was an attraction at Disneyland in Anaheim, California from 1974 to 1988. It featured a cast of Audio-Animatronic animals that entertained the audience by singing songs from various periods in America's musical history, often in a humorous fashion....
, and designed by animator Marc Davis circa 1973, or Sam the Eagle
Sam the Eagle
Sam the Eagle is a character from the syndicated television show The Muppet Show, performed by Frank Oz. The name "Sam" is possibly derived from Uncle Sam. The Bald Eagle is the official symbol of the United States, and Sam's patriotic spirit differentiates him from the rest of the Muppet cast, as...
from The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show is a British television programme produced by American puppeteer Jim Henson and featuring Muppets. After two pilot episodes were produced in 1974 and 1975, the show premiered on 5 September 1976 and five series were produced until 15 March 1981, lasting 120 episodes...
. However, he is known as Eagle Sam in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, where an animated series of the same name ran in the year preceding the Summer Olympics.
Even after the conclusion of the Games, Sam the Eagle is still used to promote a track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
event, the Mt. SAC Relays at Mt. San Antonio College
Mt. San Antonio College
Mt. San Antonio College is a community college located in the Los Angeles suburb of Walnut, California, 2.12 miles west of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona ....
, specifically its "LA84
LA84 Foundation
The LA84 Foundation is a private, nonprofit institution created by the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee to manage Southern California's endowment from the 1984 Olympic Games...
Youth Days" promotion for youth interested in athletics, run by a charitable group founded during the Olympics.