#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. Almost a thousand people responded to the proposal of the mini-football club and the Severny Gorod media company to choose a name for the polar bear – the team’s mascot. Not only Norilsk residents took part in the voting, but also residents of other Russian cities. In the end, preference was given to Nikanor.
This name has Greek roots and means ‘winner’, ‘victorious’, since it is formed from two words: ‘victory’ and ‘man’. In ancient times, it was very common. The name owners were often associated with the desire to achieve goals and overcome difficulties.
However, it is obvious that those who proposed this name for the world’s northernmost mini-football club mascot were guided by much simpler logic. For us, ‘Nikanor’ is associated not only with ‘Nika’, that is, ‘victory’, but also with Norilsk.
Although the ‘godfather’ for the bear mascot was not a Norilsk resident, but… a resident of Arhangelsk. And this is understandable: the mini-football club fans can be found in different cities of the Russian Arctic and beyond.
The gift from the FC will go to Arhangelsk, and Nikanor was officially introduced to the public yesterday. The bear’s ‘name day’ took place in Aika, where – such an amazing coincidence – the Norilsk Nickel’s hundredth home game was held. The mascot greeted the fans and athletes before the start of the match with Sinara and then remained in the stands for the entire game.
Could this fact affect the match’s outcome? Probably it could. The confrontation with the Yekaterinburg team ended with a victory for Norilsk Nickel – 6:3. However, whether to believe in the team’s mascots or not – it’s up to you.
Earlier, This Is Taimyr wrote that the Norilsk Nickel FC is leading the Russian championship.
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Text: Victor Tsarev, Photo: Elena Funkner
