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Some think it’s a cross between the Eiffel Tower and a beret. Others see it as a goofy, red French Smurf. Most people can’t even pronounce its name.
It’s Phryge (pronounced freej), the official mascot of the Paris Olympics. Mocked by the French when it was unveiled, it has become the hottest-selling item in town — and a symbol of the transformation of France’s perception of the Games from an unwanted nuisance to an unqualified triumph.