Mascots. They make an appearance at every American sporting event to infuse the crowd with team spirit and pride. So it only makes sense that the world’s largest sporting event — the Olympic Games — has them, too.

The mascot for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London is Wenlock, a curious creature that can be best described as a one-eyed drop of steel. But in years past, many host cities opted for more fun and cuddly critters — like these eight past Olympic mascots.

Check out more Vetstreet-exclusive coverage of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.