Bravo for love, peace, and joy in Boston

Bravo – a cute, warm, snuggly bear and also the mascot of the 2017 Summer Universiade in Taipei, Taiwan  – bounced all around the chamber during this week’s Council meeting, sharing hugs and handshakes with the Council, their staff, and guests.

Since January 22, 2016, Bravo has been the mascot of the 2017 Summer Universiade, an international multi-sport event, organized for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation (FISU), held in Taipei, Taiwan. The Formosan black bear species is endemic to Taiwan and currently endangered. With a Formosan black bear as the mascot, Universiade officials hope that they can raise awareness about sustainability, environmental protection, and ecological problems. According to the ENTREP & CO website, “Bravo’s chest also features the distinctive white stripe in V formation commonly found on Formosan black bears. According to Universiade officials, the V stands for victory and further represents the organizing team’s aspiration for athletes to fight hard for glory.”

Bravo has been making his rounds in the City of Boston, throughout Chinatown, and other neighborhoods, not just to promote love, joy, peace, and compassion, but to highlight the contributions of those who come from Taiwan to study, invest, and live in our City.

While speaking of Bravo, through smiles and laughter, Council President Campbell said, “He's gained tremendous popularity, clearly at the Council and in Boston, [and also] around the world. He has thousands of fans and we're lucky to have him [here] as our Taiwanese community celebrates their culture and what is unique about their culture in the City of Boston.”

Douglas Hsu, Director General of Taipei Economics and Cultural Office in Boston, spoke on Bravo’s behalf saying, “We brought Bravo here to let you know that the energy of Bravo reflects the energy of Taiwan. We are ready to engage even more with the City of Boston.”