A man walk in Wangfujing street in Beijing with the Bing Dwen Dwen and Shuey Rhon Rhon toys on February 5, 2022. Photo: VCG

The supply of Bing Dwen Dwen will be increased, the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games vows in response to the sudden insane popularity of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games panda-shaped mascot since the games kicked off on Friday. 

The spokesperson of the committee Zhao Weidong said at a press conference on Sunday that some of his friends asked him where they could buy Bing Dwen Dwen, showing the high demand for the mascot. Zhao said that the phenomenon also reflects the surge in the number of people who are now participating in winter sports across the country, which has reached 300 million so far. 

The panda-shaped mascot has become an insanely popular star not only at the Games but almost in every corner of the world with its fluffy and lovable image. Many foreign athletes managed to find time to collect the souvenirs of the mascot in the Olympic Villages between their busy schedules of training and competition. 

A Hungarian athlete told media that he had bought and won two Bing Dwen Dwen mascots which he would keep since they are so lovable. If he could get a third one, he would give it to his 3-year-old younger sister. 

Christopher Dolby, executive director of the Olympic Department of the International Olympic Committee, also expressed his fascination of Bing Dwen Dwen as being adorable and full of positive energy during the press briefing on Sunday. He said that the mascot would definitely become his collections and will also become the collection of children across the world. 

Japanese journalist Gido Tsujioka from Japan's NTV is overwhelmed with the number of interview invitations from Chinese media after he went viral on Chinese social media for showing love for the panda mascot which has earned him the nickname "Gido Dwen Dwen." Tsujioka has already sent a full box of souvenirs of the mascot back to Japan. 

The Beijing Organizing Committee has noticed the short supply of the mascot. According to Zhao, part of the reason for the scarcity is the Spring Festival holiday since some factory workers went back home for holidays. Zhao said that related departments are strengthening coordination to increase the supply of Bing Dwen Dwen. 

Meanwhile, Zhao called for more attention from media to be paid to Shuey Rhon Rhon, the lantern-child-shaped Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games mascot.