By Qu Zhanzhan

Dressing up as an Olympic mascot certainly boosts your popularity.

Wherever you go, you are the focus of attention as people elbow their way through the crowd to play with you. But it's not so enjoyable hiding inside the big tummies of the balloon toys and bearing the incredible heat while posing for your fans.

But all the popularity outweighed the discomfort and I don't mind sweating for the spectators.

I feel good posing with the fans and I am proud I have helped to get them excited for the upcoming Olympics.

I was Fu Niu Lele, the Paralympic mascot, during the modern pentathlon test event last September.

I could feel the weight of the colored cow's giant head swinging back and forth.

And I could hardly see what was going on outside because the viewing holes were blocked by the steamy cloud emanating from my skin.

The only thing I could hear was the laughter around me.

But I kept jumping, rocking, twirling and chasing the small kids.

Qu Zhanzhan is a Paralympic mascot, seen here posing with a fan. Courtesy to Qu Zhanzhan

Something was ballooning in my mind to help override the fatigue. I played the mascot who brought the passion.

When my colleagues helped me out of the outfit, my looks stunned them: sweat all over my face and hair sticking to my head like a mop.

Now you really look like a hardworking cow, they said.

(Qu Zhanzhan, 22, is a Jiangsu-born junior student studying electronic technologies at the North China Electric Power University. Qu was a spectator service volunteer during last year's Good Luck Beijing Modern Pentathlon World Cup Final, and played a role as the Beijing Paralympic mascot. He said he will serve as a security check volunteer at the Olympic Sports Center during the Games.)

(China Daily June 23, 2008)