“Bad Badtz - Maru” cool penguins

World basketball championships in 2006 announced the mascot - famous Japanese cartoon "Bad Badtz - Maru" as the mascot of the 2006 world championships in Japan.
"Bad Badtz - Maru" image of the copyright owner sanrio company has struck a deal with the fiba, cool "penguin" and its image of family and friends will appear in the world championships campaign.

"Is the purpose of using this image in order to expand the world athletics championships in Japan's influence, especially in cartoon accompanied the younger generation grew up."The fiba secretary general bowman explained.Unlike many past mascots, Bad Badtz - Maru is the opposite of an evil image, but it is in Japan, Asia, America and Europe are popular.

Sanrio company said, "in order to be able to bring the sport of basketball among women, children, and more, we will develop more cool penguins related products, in order to finish the mission."The Japanese government officials said that at present the preparations for the 2006 world championships are carried out in accordance with the plan methodically.The official said: "our goal is to host a successful world championships, at the same time in the formation of the Japanese love basketball."