THE LONDON 2012 MASCOTS: WENLOCK AND MANDEVILLE

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

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

Wenlock, the official mascot for the London 2012 Olympic Games

Its 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!

Its most distinctive features

The light on its head is inspired by the lights on London’s iconic black taxis. The shape of the front of its head is based on the shape of the Olympic Stadium roof. Its eye is a camera lens, capturing everything It sees as It goes...

The three points on its head represent the places on the podium where successful athletes stand to receive their medals.

Mandeville, the official mascot for the London 2012 Paralympic Games

Its 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.

Its most distinctive features

Its eye is a camera lens, capturing everything It sees as It goes. On its head are three prongs – they represent the three parts of the Paralympic emblem.

The light on its head is inspired by the lights found on London’s iconic black taxis!

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