BOGOTA, June 5 (Xinhua) -- The South American Sports Games unveiled its official mascot, a colorful bird "Llin" of the mixture of parrot, canary and dove.

    According to the organizer, the mascot is joyful, sports and children loving and its name comes from the last letter of Medellin, capital of Antioquia department, northwest of Colombia.

    The organizers presented the mascot on Thursday night in Medellin in an event with the attendance of local celebrities as well as representative from the South American Sports Organization, Paraguayan Ramon Zubizarreta.

    Zubizarreta said that he has no doubt that Colombia and Medellin will host a special Game, because the city and its people is identified with sports.

    According to the creators of Llin, it is unknown what kind of bird it is, but "it was born from a pre-historical egg, found in Medellin" thanks to the heat and love of the children.

    The mascot was chosen based on the workshops the organizers did in Medellin with the attendance of more than 2,000 children.

    Director of the Games, Alicia Eugenia Vargas said that the children wanted a bird to represent the games and it must be mainly green and it had also to represent love and respect.

    Some 4,000 sportsman from 15 countries and regions will compete in 31 disciplines at the Games from March 10 to 21, 2010.