View source for Izzy (mascot)

===Conception and introduction at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics===
In 1991, the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG) began a search for a mascot with a competition of twenty design firms as well as suggestions from the general public.<ref name="ACOG Report">{{cite book|url=http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1996/1996v1.pdf|title=The Official Report Of The Centennial Olympic Games|publisher=Peachtree Publishers|year=1997|isbn=1-56145-150-9|page=130|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528011846if_/http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1996/1996v1.pdf|archive-date=2008-05-28|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the end, ACOG received a total of ten submissions. Many of the proposed mascots resembled flames or [[Phoenix (mythology)|phoenixes]]. One was based off a peanut, while another was inspired by one of [[Zoo Atlanta]]'s gorillas.<ref name="AHC-Mighty-Morphin-Mascot">{{cite web |last1=Dylla |first1=Sarah |title=Mighty Morphin' Mascot |url=https://www.atlantahistorycenter.com/blog/mighty-morphin-mascot/ |publisher=Atlanta History Center |date=2021-01-29}}</ref> The selection, Whatizit, was designed by John Ryan, senior animation director of Atlanta-based design firm DESIGNefx.<ref name="SFBizJournal">{{cite news|author=Levine, Felicia|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/1996/08/12/story3.html?t=printable|title=Dizzy Izzy isn't busy, is he?|date=1996-08-06|access-date=2007-06-20|publisher=[[South Florida Business Journal]]}}</ref>
<ref>[https://www.artsatl.org/atlanta-remembers-cultural-olympiad-man-izzy-clean-wuz/ Atlanta Remembers the Cultural Olympiad: The man behind Izzy comes clean about what wuz it], Gavin Godfrey, ARTSATL, 20 July 2016.</ref> Whatizit originally appeared as a blue, tear-shaped "blob" with rings around his eyes and tail. He wore high-top sneakers and had star-shaped pupils. His arms and legs were also short with a toothy grin showing both rows of teeth. He was later modified to have longer limbs to give a more athletic look.

In addition to renaming him "Izzy", several changes were made to the mascot's appearance including losing the bottom row of teeth, making the tongue visible, and making the limbs longer, skinnier, and more athletic.{{Citation needed|date=June 2007}} Izzy also became shorter and grew a nose. At one point during the process, he had stars emanating from his tail. The design team also briefly considered having Izzy wear his shoes backwards, as a nod to the contemporary fashion of wearing [[baseball cap]]s backwards.<ref name="Atlanta-Mag-What-Is-It">{{cite news |last1=Blau |first1=Max |title=What is it? An oral history of Izzy, the mascot marketing snafu of Olympic proportions |url=https://www.atlantamagazine.com/great-reads/what-is-it-oral-history-izzy-atlanta-olympics/ |work=Atlanta Magazine |date=2016-06-23}}</ref>