Olympic & Paralympic Mascots Unveiled
The mascots for the London 2012 Games have been unveiled and have a very special connection with Buckinghamshire.
On May 19th the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) unveiled its Olympic Mascot, Wenlock and Paralympic Mascot, Mandeville - named after Stoke Mandeville in Buckinghamshire, the birthplace of the Paralympic movement.
Britain's most decorated Paralympian Dame Tanni Grey Thompson and LOCOG Director of Paralympic Integration Chris Holmes visited Stoke Mandeville Stadium to support the national launch and reveal the inspiration behind the mascots.
LOCOG Chairman Sebastian Coe commented, “We’ve created our mascots for children. They will connect young people with sport and tell the story of our proud Olympic and Paralympic history. By linking young people to the values of sport, Wenlock and Mandeville will help inspire kids to strive to be the best they can be.”
Wenlock and Mandeville were created from the last drops of steel left over from the construction of the final support girder for the Olympic Stadium. An animated film, based on a
story by children’s author Michael Morpurgo, shows how the figures were brought to life and are able to reflect and adapt to their surroundings, changing their appearance depending on the situation. Wenlock and Mandeville will now go on separate journeys, often crossing paths and meeting people all over the country inspiring them to choose sport as they head towards the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
The mascots’ names reflect the UK’s rich Olympic and Paralympic histories. Wenlock’s name is inspired by the Shropshire village of Much Wenlock where the ‘Wenlock Games’ was one of the inspirations that led the founder of the modern Olympic movement Baron Pierre de Coubertin to create the Olympic Games. Mandeville’s name is inspired by Stoke Mandeville in Buckinghamshire. In the 1940s, Dr.Ludwig Guttmann came to Stoke Mandeville Hospital to set up a new spinal unit to help former soldiers suffering from spinal cord injuries. Looking for ways to inspire those in his care, he encouraged them to take up sport, leading to the formation of the Stoke Mandeville Games, widely recognised as a forerunner of the modern Paralympic movement.
Jack Geraghty from Mandeville School, was thrilled to attend the event. "I felt privileged to be asked to go to one of the most important times in the London 2012 Paralympic Games calendar" the Year 12 student commented. "The mascots looked amazing and the story behind them was also very impressive. The fact that one of the mascots was called Mandeville made me very proud, knowing that our school name will be spoken all around the world. The cherry on the cake was meeting Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, what an experience."
Sarah Mason, Mandeville student and Gold Young Ambassador for the School Sports Partnership enthused, "now when people ask where I am from and I say I am from Mandeville, people know where I am from, because of the Mascot. I think the Mascots are unique and bring a technological view to the 2012 Games. The Mandeville Mascot brings our school closer to the games and I feel very privileged to be one of the first people to see the Mascots as they are an essential key to the Olympic and Paralympic Games".
It has been an exceptional few weeks for Buckinghamshire athletes as they step up their preparations for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Register Now For Open WeekendRegistrations for London 2012 Open Weekend 2010 are now open. Arts, culture and sporting organisations across Buckinghamshire are invited to challenge audiences to try something new or take an existing interest to a new level. Individuals are also challenged to pen a piece of prose or poetry inspired by the Olympic and Paralympic values.
Dorney Lake - Our Olympic & Paralympic VenueBuckinghamshire will play an important role in helping deliver the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Eton College Rowing Centre at Dorney Lake will be the host venue for the rowing, sprint-canoeing and adaptive rowing competitions for the Games.
Register your interest for 2012 tickets The world’s greatest sporting events are coming to London! Tickets for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games will go on sale in 2011. You can make a start by registering your interest. Tickets are not yet on sale.
Geting Ready, Get Set... Bucks 2012 Conference The second Buckinghamshire 2012 Conference is being held on March 18th-19th 2010 at our Olympic and Paralympic venue, the stunning Eton College Rowing Centre at Dorney Lake which will host the rowing and sprint-canoeing competitions in 2012
Chance to be Part of the Peoples Record What do the Olympic & Paralympic Games mean to you?
Olympics Minister helps to celebrate success of local arts projectOlympics Minister Tessa Jowell MP visited Cressex Community School recently to meet students who have been working with disabled artists and athletes to create new artwork which tells the story of the Paralympics, its birth in Buckinghamshire, and the inspiration that drives them.
New Bucks Sport & 2012 Business Guide AvailableA handy new guide to help Buckinghamshire businesses inspire a lasting legacy from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is available now.
How Did You Mark the 1000 Day Countdown? October 31st 2009 marked the 1000 day countdown to the opening ceremony for the London 2012 Olympic Games and we want you to let us know how you marked this occasion as part of a special Reactivate Bucks Community Challenge.
Register NowBucks Fly the FlagMany Buckinghamshire athletes are currently striving to achieve their ultimate goal of representing their country in the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Listed here is our initial selection of athletes with Buckinghamshire connections who we believe have a great chance of representing Great Britain on home soil in 2012.
Buckinghamshire Company Wins Major London 2012 ContractThe Stowe based Buckingham Group Contracting have fought off competition from 5 shortlisted multi-national companies to secure the contract to build the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Handball Arena.
Bucks 2012 ConferenceThe first Buckinghamshire 2012 Conference "Are You Ready?" was held at the Green Park Centre near Aston Clinton on February 19th 2009, the keynote speaker was Lord Coe (pictured taking part in a Wheelchair Basketball Demonstration as part of the Conference), Chairman of the London 2012 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games who helped launch the Buckinghamshire 2012 Legacy & Ambition plan.