Kewpie Dolls featured prominently in the closing ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, as a playful and nostalgic nod to Australian childhood and fairground culture.
Why Kewpie Dolls where included:
During The Segment called "Tin Symphony", the ceremony celebrated aspects of Australia's rural history, working-class life and popular culture. The kewpie dolls appeared as a vivid, theatrical recreation of:
• Showground scenes, referencing the Royal Easter Show and other agricultural Shows.
• Carnival life, reflecting how integral these dolls are to memories of growing up in Australia.
• A symbolic celebration of ordinary Australians and their joys, using visual icons like the Kewpie to represent innocence, fun, and national identity.
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What Made It Memorable:
• Dozens of performers and dancers held Kewpie dolls on sticks as they paraded across the stadium.
• The dolls helped balance Australia’s deep historical themes (like colonisation, industry, and reconciliation) with lighthearted cultural touchstones.
• For many viewers, seeing Kewpies at the Olympics was a moment of proud, affectionate recognition—“that’s so Aussie!”
The Giant dolls where a Stand out feature of the closing ceremony. The 6 metre tall figures twirled around Stadium Australia during the 'Love Is In The Air' segment celebrating Australian culture and nostalgia.
Watch The Closing ceremony here -
Skip to 1:30 to see the Kewpie's dancing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlOTGzPZvfw&t=5613s