The English name for the five mascot dolls of the 2008 Beijing Olympics was changed last week, according to a report on the China International Radio (CRI) website. A news official from the Games organization committee said he was unaware of this.

The CRI report said "the controversial English name for the mascots - the Friendlies - was changed last week to Fuwa, a literal Chinese pinyin translation" and "the change was decided with regards to integrated factors, according to an official of the organization committee".

The report also cited the name change on a diagram on the Games official website as proof of the change. The diagram, used mostly on Beijing Olympics-related websites, is appended to an authoritative introduction to the dolls.

A Media and Communications Department official told Chinadaily.com.cn he hasn't received a formal message and he doesn't know specifically when or why the name was changed.