The Polish mascot in the shape of a pierogi, known as Pieroguszka or Pierogini, has become a global phenomenon during the Winter Games in Milan. On Wednesday, February 18th, representatives of the Polish delegation officially presented the plush gift to American rapper Snoop Dogg. The meeting, attended by Polish Olympic Committee President Radosław Piesiewicz and Polish Figure Skating Association President Magdalena Tascher, took place at the NBC headquarters, and the artist did not hide his delight with the Polish symbol.

Snoop Dogg with Pierogini

American rapper Snoop Dogg received the Polish mascot in Milan from the president of the Polish Olympic Committee. The artist was delighted with the gift made by a social cooperative.

Kurakova's Season Record

Jekaterina Kurakova scored 60.14 pts in the short program, which is her best result of the season and guarantees certain advancement to the final.

Madonna Supports Amber Glenn

The pop music star sent a personal video to American skater Amber Glenn, who used the song Like a Prayer in her program.

Controversy Surrounding Jutta Leerdam

The gold medalist from the Netherlands is facing a wave of criticism at home for her lifestyle and promoting sponsors in violation of Olympic regulations.

The Polish figure skating team achieved an extraordinary promotional success during the Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. It was all thanks to Pierogini – a pierogi-shaped mascot that accompanied our athletes during their events and quickly gained viral status on social media. The culmination of this popularity was the meeting of the Polish delegation with legendary rapper Snoop Dogg. The artist, working on broadcasts for NBC, had previously expressed interest in the charming cushion, and finally received it personally from the Polish Olympic Committee. The tradition of national teams bringing their own unofficial mascots has a long history, but rarely does a regional product gain such powerful interest from global media and celebrities of the highest caliber.The uniqueness of Pierogini is underscored by its social dimension. It is hand-sewn by people with disabilities at the Honolulu Social Cooperative in Katowice. The immense popularity at the Games translated into real economic results – the company was forced to temporarily halt orders due to unprecedented demand. Meanwhile, on the ice, Jekaterina Kurakova stirred emotions. The Polish representative in the short program beat her season's best (60.14 pts) and secured advancement to the final free program. Kurakova, born in Moscow but representing the white and red colors for years, presented a more mature and nostalgic image, moving away from her previous role as the "always smiling girl." Meanwhile, in the American team, there was talk about Amber Glenn. The skater, who openly speaks about her queer orientation and critically comments on Donald Trump's politics, received special support from Madonna herself. The Queen of Pop sent her a video message after Glenn performed to the song "Like a Prayer." Despite being moved by the music icon's support, the athlete could not avoid mistakes on the ice, which cost her a chance at a medal. Simultaneously, discussions were ongoing in the corridors about Jutta Leerdam. The Dutch speed skater, a gold and silver medalist, found herself under fire for allegedly circumventing advertising bans and her lifestyle, including flying to Italy on a private jet. 60,14 pkt — is Jekaterina Kurakova's record season scoreShort program scores for singles skaters: Kurakova: 60.14, Pietrosjan: 72.40, Glenn: 58.20„This meeting was so unexpected and surprising that we haven't recovered from the shock yet. Snoop Dogg didn't want to let us go.” — Magdalena Tascher

Mentioned People

  • Snoop Dogg — Legendary American rapper who became an ambassador for the Polish mascot Pierogini.
  • Jekaterina Kurakova — Polish representative in figure skating, who broke her season's best in Milan.
  • Amber Glenn — American figure skater who received support from Madonna.
  • Jutta Leerdam — Dutch speed skater, Olympic champion, criticized for excessive glamour.
  • Magdalena Tascher — President of the Polish Figure Skating Association.