SEOUL, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The mascots and emblem for the World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals Busan 2024 were officially unveiled on Thursday.

According to the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), Loopy and Chopy, the official mascots, were inspired from the seagull, a ubiquitous sight in Busan, a costal city located around 330km southeast of South Korea's capital city Seoul.

The ITTF introduced that the vibrant and playful Loopy is equipped with a red racket and loves to jump around in all directions. The name was inspired by the "loop-drive", a popular table tennis stroke used to add topspin to the ball.

The name of Chopy came from the table tennis "chop-shot," renowned for adding a backspin to the ball.

The emblem, said the ITTF, highlights the beauty of South Korea and the host city Busan, and embodies the values of sportsmanship and harmony.

The circle in the top-right corner of the emblem represents the rising sun, and the circular background shape represents the sky and Korean traditional artwork Moon Jar.

Its central trophy-like shape represents two athletes shaking hands in a symbol of respect and friendly competition, with the motif taken from Busan's iconic Gwangandaegyo Bridge.

The overall shape of the emblem resembles a table tennis racket and ball. And the blue and red colors are taken from the national flag of South Korea.

"We recognise the ability of mascots to engage and captivate audiences, particularly the younger generation. Loopy and Chopy will inspire more young people to take up the sport and cultivate a new generation of table tennis players," ITTF President Petra Sorling said.

Ryu Seung-min, president of the organizing committee of the Championships Finals Busan 2024, said: "We are grateful for the new opportunity to showcase our ability to host this prestigious event and provide table tennis enthusiasts with the experience they deserve."

The ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals 2024 will be held in Busan from February 16 to 25, 2024. This will be the first time for South Korea to host a World Table Tennis Championships.