The 2010 World Championships have a mascot and it’s the Van cat, a breed of feline that originates from the Lake Van area of southeastern Turkey. Unlike most cats, the Van cat loves water, which is why it is also known as the  ‘swimming cat’.

Discuss the Van Cat in our forum.

Sometimes the cats even have one green eye and one blue eye, like the mascot for the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

Can’t get enough of the Van Cat? Go to the FIBA site and download one of the seven wallpapers featuring the mascot in the four Turkish cities that the tournament will be played in: Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, and Kayseri.