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  4. Fans are clamoring over Beijing Winter Olympics souvenirs. Here's a closer look at the mascot collectibles drawing massive lines and selling out within hours.

Fans are clamoring over Beijing Winter Olympics souvenirs. Here's a closer look at the mascot collectibles drawing massive lines and selling out within hours.

Sarah Jackson   

Fans are clamoring over Beijing Winter Olympics souvenirs. Here's a closer look at the mascot collectibles drawing massive lines and selling out within hours.
Mark Schiefelbein/Associated Press
  • Souvenirs from the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics have been selling out very quickly.
  • The most popular ones are of Olympics mascot Bing Dwen Dwen, a panda, and Paralympics mascot Shuey Rhon Rhon, a Chinese lantern child.

The Winter Olympics are in full swing.

The Winter Olympics are in full swing.
An athlete takes part in a snowboard slopestyle practice session at Genting Snow Park in Zhangjiakou on February 3, 2022, ahead of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games.      MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images

While the athletes are the main focus, many fans are equally excited about two other prominent figures at the Games ...

While the athletes are the main focus, many fans are equally excited about two other prominent figures at the Games ...
Andy Wong/Associated Press

Meet Bing Dwen Dwen and Shuey Rhon Rhon, the official mascots of this year's Winter Olympics and Winter Paralympics, respectively. Bing Dwen Dwen is seen here on the right, and Shuey Rhon Rhon is pictured on the left.

Meet Bing Dwen Dwen and Shuey Rhon Rhon, the official mascots of this year
Mark Schiefelbein/Associated Press

Bing Dwen Dwen is a panda with a full-body "shell" of ice that resembles an astronaut's suit, according to the official Olympics website.

Bing Dwen Dwen is a panda with a full-body "shell" of ice that resembles an astronaut
Sheldon Cooper/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

In Mandarin, "Bing" means ice and also symbolizes purity and strength, and "Dwen Dwen" means robust and lively and also represents children, the IOC says.

In Mandarin, "Bing" means ice and also symbolizes purity and strength, and "Dwen Dwen" means robust and lively and also represents children, the IOC says.
Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters

The rainbow halo around its face represents "the latest advanced technologies of the ice and snow sport tracks at the Games" and the heart on its left palm "symbolizes China's hospitality for athletes and spectators at the Winter Olympics," according to the Olympics website.

The rainbow halo around its face represents "the latest advanced technologies of the ice and snow sport tracks at the Games" and the heart on its left palm "symbolizes China
Bing Dwen Dwen and Shuey Rhon Rhon, mascots of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, are displayed on a building in Beijing, China.      VCG / Getty Images

Shuey Rhon Rhon is a Chinese lantern child.

Shuey Rhon Rhon is a Chinese lantern child.
Sheldon Cooper/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

"Shuey" has the same pronunciation as the Chinese character for snow, the first "Rhon" means "to include, to tolerate," and the second means "to melt, to fuse" and "warm," according to the Olympics website.

"Shuey" has the same pronunciation as the Chinese character for snow, the first "Rhon" means "to include, to tolerate," and the second means "to melt, to fuse" and "warm," according to the Olympics website.
Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters

The faint glow coming from Shuey Rhon Rhon's heart "symbolizes the friendship, warmth, courage, and perseverance of Para athletes - traits that inspire millions of people around the world every day," the website says.

The faint glow coming from Shuey Rhon Rhon
Bing Dwen Dwen and Shuey Rhon Rhon, mascots of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, are displayed on a building in Beijing, China.      VCG / Getty Images

Souvenirs of Bing Dwen Dwen and Shuey Rhon Rhon have been selling out incredibly quickly in recent weeks as eager fans clear out shelves of stuffed animals, pins, and other merch of the mascots.

Souvenirs of Bing Dwen Dwen and Shuey Rhon Rhon have been selling out incredibly quickly in recent weeks as eager fans clear out shelves of stuffed animals, pins, and other merch of the mascots.
Yew Lun Tian/Reuters

During the day, fans wait in line for hours at a time to get their hands on these souvenirs.

During the day, fans wait in line for hours at a time to get their hands on these souvenirs.
VCG/VCG via Getty Images

At night, they hunker down, sometimes in freezing temperatures, in anticipation of the store openings the next day, bringing stools to ease the wait.

At night, they hunker down, sometimes in freezing temperatures, in anticipation of the store openings the next day, bringing stools to ease the wait.
Ng Han Guan/Associated Press

The next morning, fans are eager to get inside.

The next morning, fans are eager to get inside.
Andy Wong/Associated Press

Once they do, some may be greeted by a message like this. Because of the sky-high demand for souvenirs, some stores are limiting the number of items a customer can buy per day.

Once they do, some may be greeted by a message like this. Because of the sky-high demand for souvenirs, some stores are limiting the number of items a customer can buy per day.
Emily Roe/Reuters

Shelves don't stay stocked for long, with stores often selling out within hours.

Shelves don
Fred Lee/Getty Images

Popular souvenirs of Bing Dwen Dwen and Shuey Rhon Rhon include plush toys and ceramic figurines, either sold individually by mascot ...

Popular souvenirs of Bing Dwen Dwen and Shuey Rhon Rhon include plush toys and ceramic figurines, either sold individually by mascot ...
Tyrone Siu/Reuters

... or together.

... or together.
Mark Schiefelbein/Associated Press

Besides the stuffed animals, there are several other souvenirs celebrating the mascots, including these pins of Bing Dwen Dwen partaking in the Winter Olympics sports ...

Besides the stuffed animals, there are several other souvenirs celebrating the mascots, including these pins of Bing Dwen Dwen partaking in the Winter Olympics sports ...
Fred Lee/Getty Images

... as well as backpacks ...

... as well as backpacks ...
Sergei Bobylev/TASS via Getty Images

... and apparel.

... and apparel.
Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images

Of course, there's other Olympics merch for sale that doesn't feature Bing Dwen Dwen or Shuey Rhon Rhon, such as these shirts ...

Of course, there
Tyrone Siu/Reuters

... and hats. This wearer chose to accessorize theirs with pins of the mascots.

... and hats. This wearer chose to accessorize theirs with pins of the mascots.
Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

But the mascot merch seems to be the most sought-after by a mile.

But the mascot merch seems to be the most sought-after by a mile.
Roman Balandin/TASS via Getty Images

It's so popular that stuffed toys of Bing Dwen Dwen are reselling online for as much as $500, or roughly 17 times the $30 retail price.

It
Andy Wong/Associated Press

Source: Bloomberg

Beijing police have warned fans against buying mascot merch from scalpers and even arrested three resellers for price gouging.

Beijing police have warned fans against buying mascot merch from scalpers and even arrested three resellers for price gouging.
Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

Source: Bloomberg

Some people are even making their own versions of the mascot merch in the face of the short supply.

Some people are even making their own versions of the mascot merch in the face of the short supply.
Dong Hui and his wife show the dough figurines of Bing Dwen Dwen, the mascot of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, at home in Shenyang city in northeast Chinas Liaoning province Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022. The couple said they were making these mascots for their friends and relatives.      LI LIN/Future Publishing via Getty Images

The supply crunch owes in part to a weeklong shutdown of manufacturing plants for Lunar New Year, according to Zhao Weidong, a spokesperson for the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

The supply crunch owes in part to a weeklong shutdown of manufacturing plants for Lunar New Year, according to Zhao Weidong, a spokesperson for the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Yew Lun Tian/Reuters

Source: Reuters

Fortunately for fans, China is boosting production of mascot merch to keep up with surging demand.

Fortunately for fans, China is boosting production of mascot merch to keep up with surging demand.
Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

Source: Reuters

"We are paying close attention to this problem ... we are coordinating (with factories) to increase supply of 'Bing Dwen Dwen,'" Zhao said at a press conference last week announcing the production boost.

"We are paying close attention to this problem ... we are coordinating (with factories) to increase supply of
Nariman El-Mofty/Associated Press

Source: Reuters

"This issue reflects the popularity of the Beijing Winter Olympics, and also demonstrates the achievement of engaging 300 million Chinese in winter sports," Zhao added in the press conference.

"This issue reflects the popularity of the Beijing Winter Olympics, and also demonstrates the achievement of engaging 300 million Chinese in winter sports," Zhao added in the press conference.
Shuey Rhon Rhon (L), the mascot of the 2022 Winter Paralympics, and Bing Dwen Dwen, the mascot of the 2022 Winter Olympics, are pictured in the Olympic Village.      Artyom Ivanov/TASS via Getty Images

Source: Reuters

Total revenue from licensed Beijing 2022 merch could reach $395 million during the Games, according to analysts from Chinese financial services firm Shanxi Securities.

Total revenue from licensed Beijing 2022 merch could reach $395 million during the Games, according to analysts from Chinese financial services firm Shanxi Securities.
Tingshu Wang/Reuters

Source: Reuters

While demand remains high for Bing Dwen Dwen and Shuey Rhon Rhon souvenirs, a select few are guaranteed to take home a mascot of their own, complete with Olympic laurels, no line-waiting necessary: the athletes who medal at the Games.

While demand remains high for Bing Dwen Dwen and Shuey Rhon Rhon souvenirs, a select few are guaranteed to take home a mascot of their own, complete with Olympic laurels, no line-waiting necessary: the athletes who medal at the Games.
Liu Lu/VCG via Getty Images

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