OTTAWA -- Children from soccer teams in the national capital region cheered Tuesday as they met the new mascot for the FIFA Women's World Cup, being held in Canada in 2015.
The mascot, a Great White Owl named Shueme, was introduced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper's wife Laureen.
She was joined at the unveiling by Sport Minister Bal Gosal, Peter Montopoli, the CEO for the 2015 games and Canadian soccer star Kara Lang.
Organizers said the mascot was inspired by both the strength and elegance of the women's game.
Laureen Harper told the event that the FIFA World Cup games being held in Brazil are currently on a TV screen in her house.
And she said she expects to be watching the women's games next year when they are held in six host cities across the country -- Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montreal, Ottawa and Moncton, N.B.
The month-long tournament begins on June 6 next year.
