Moscow unveils 2013 World Athletics mascot

Moscow - An anthropomorphic sparrow will serve as the mascot for the 2013 World Athletics Championships in Moscow, organisers announced Wednesday.

The cartoon bird has brown, black and white plumage and wears a blue t-shirt bearing the Moscow 2013 insignia.

“A sparrow was chosen as the mascot,” said the general secretary of the Russian athletics federation, Mikhail Butov.

“The bird shares a lot of qualities with the athletes: It’s quick, light and nimble.”

It was chosen from more than 200 designs submitted by the public over the internet.

“There were lots of possibilities, but we settled on the sparrow, because we want the sparrow to be associated with Moscow and with athletics.”

Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium plays host to the championships Aug 10-18, 2013.