Vinicius will be the name of the Rio Olympic Games mascot after a three-week Internet vote and the Paralympic Games mascot will be called Tom.
The names are in honor of two greats of Brazilian music, Vinicius de Moraes and Tom Jobim, organizers said Sunday, after 323,327 public votes were cast to name the duo.
Vinicius, mascot of the Olympic Games, is a yellow feline animal representing Brazil's rich fauna and wildlife.
The Paralympic Games mascot is a predominantly blue and green figure whose head is covered with leaves, depicting the host country's rich vegetation.
The first Olympics to be held in South America take place August 5-21, 2016.
Source: AFP