Unsporting stalls cash in on 2008 Games mascots

Strong demand for the 'Five Friendlies' Olympic mascots unveiled on Friday has seen prices soar, with at least one unlicensed vendor at Beijing's Silk Alley Shopping Plaza marking prices up by 60 per cent.

A senior legal official with the Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (Bocog) said local industry and commerce officials found one vendor selling mascot merchandise during a visit to the plaza yesterday morning.

Li Yanjun, of Bocog's legal affairs co-ordination division, said the trader claimed to have bought the mascots through official channels and marked up the retail price amid strong demand.

The Beijing-based First newspaper reported that one vendor at the plaza was selling mascots for 60 per cent more than the recommended retail price.

A rubber Friendly was a selling for 160 yuan at the plaza, while an identical product was available at franchised outlets for 99 yuan, the newspaper said. And a set of five stuffed Friendlies priced at 390 yuan in official shops could be ordered for 460 yuan at the plaza.

Mr Li said a legal affairs official with the International Olympic Committee had bought a rubber Friendly at the plaza. He said Bocog concluded that the mascots on sale at the plaza were genuine.

'Supplies cannot meet demand because the mascots being sold now were secretly produced before the official unveiling [on Friday night],' Mr Li said.