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About Mascots

About us

Hello, we’re the official London 2012 mascots: Wenlock, the Olympic mascot and Mandeville, the Paralympic mascot.

We were created from the last two drops of British steel used for the London 2012 Olympic Stadium. That’s why we’re so shiny, reflecting the people, places and things we meet along the way as we travel around the UK. You might see yourself reflected if we meet you!

We’ll be capturing everything we learn as we go – of course, we’re especially excited to find out about all the Olympic and Paralympic sports.

We’re really focused on our final destination – the Games in London in 2012! Hope to see you there!

Find out more about Wenlock Find out more about Mandeville

 

Wenlock

about Wenlock - the official London 2012 Olympics Mascot

Hello, I’m Wenlock, the official mascot for the London 2012 Olympic Games!

How did I get my name?

My name is inspired by Much Wenlock in Shropshire, a town that is at the heart of Olympic history. In the 19th century, Baron Pierre de Coubertin was invited there to watch the ‘Much Wenlock Games’ inspired by the Olympic Games of ancient Greece. De Coubertin was inspired by the Wenlock Games too, and went on to found the modern Olympic movement. The Much Wenlock Games are still held annually to this day!

My most distinctive features

Do you like the light on my head? It’s inspired by the lights on London’s iconic black taxis. The shape of the front of my head is based on the shape of the Olympic Stadium roof. My eye is a camera lens, capturing everything I see as I go..

If you’re wondering about the three points on my head – well, they represent the places on the podium where successful athletes stand to receive their medals. I can’t wait to meet some of Britain’s London 2012 hopefuls – and I really hope they will achieve their personal best at the Games and get to stand on the podium too.

A bit more about me

I love all the Olympic sports – and can’t wait to find out more about them! I’ve got from now until summer 2012 to learn everything I can – there’s almost nothing I like more than discovering new things. The only thing better is making friends and seeing other people make friends. The bracelets on my wrists are friendship bands, in the colours of the five Olympic rings. I can’t wait to meet as many people as possible, around the UK and even the world. I hope you’ll be my friend too?

Life is all about having fun and I always look on the bright side. Why? Because there are so many fantastic people who are positive and upbeat and make me laugh. It’s that kind of person who really inspires me to do my personal best. I will do everything I can to help you do your best as well!

Mandeville

about Mandeville - the official London 2012 Paralympics Mascot

Hi, I’m Mandeville, the official mascot for the London 2012 Paralympic Games!

How did I get my name?

My name is inspired by Stoke Mandeville in Buckinghamshire, the birthplace of the Paralympic Games. On the same day as the Opening Ceremony of the London 1948 Olympic Games, Sir Ludwig Guttmann held his own sport competition in Stoke Mandeville for World War II soldiers with spinal injuries. It was no coincidence – Sir Ludwig dreamed of a ‘parallel Olympics’ for athletes with disabilities. The Stoke Mandeville Games grew and grew until they became the Paralympic Games.

My most distinctive features

My eye is a camera lens, capturing everything I see as I go. On my head are three prongs – they represent the three parts of the Paralympic emblem. Like my tail and my hands they’re aerodynamic, which is really important as I’m a ‘spirit in motion’, always rushing around. I’m constantly trying to beat my personal best – the personal best timer on my wrist helps me keep track, as well as making sure I’m focused on London 2012.

I also love the light on my head – inspired by the lights found on London’s iconic black taxis! And it helps me see where I’m going, which is always useful.

A bit more about me

I’ll be honest – I’m on a mission. On a mission to be the best I can possibly be. Because that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?

There’s nothing I like better than having a go at something new – offer me a challenge and I’ll take it! And if at first I don’t succeed? Well, as they say, I’ll try, try and try again.

There are some amazing people around the UK who are inspiring me to push harder than I ever thought I could – even when the going gets tough. And among those amazing people are the Paralympic athletes I’m meeting. Some people call them ‘athletes with disabilities’. I’m finding out that’s not quite the case – in fact, these are people with an almost superhuman ability.

I’m spending from now until summer 2012 finding out all about Paralympic sport, about all the different types of people in the UK and what links us all together. I’ll be pushing myself to achieve every step of the way. Hope you can keep up!