2012 InternationalEducation Programme

Out of a Rainbow: The story of the London 2012

A big rainbow arcs over the town down onto a On the floor lie the last two drops of British steel, giant steelworks. used for the London 2012 Olympic Stadium. The drops of steel are turned into Wenlock and As the rainbow gets brighter, the mascots come Mandeville, the London 2012 mascots. to life.

Learning fast, the mascots pretend to be athletes The mascots look shiny and reflect the people, running, jumping, diving and boxing. places and things they meet.

The figures are named as Wenlock, the Olympic On their journey, the mascots will remember , from the town of Much Wenlock, and everything they learn, and of course, they are Mandeville, the Paralympic mascot, from the excited to find out about all the Olympic and town of . Paralympic sports. Glossary OLYMPIC STADIUM – this is the main venue for the Olympic Games and the . The Opening Ceremonies, Closing Ceremonies and the Athletics competition take place here

MASCOT – a person, object or animal that is used by a team or company e.g. a sports club to promote their activity In 2012, will be there, you’ll be there, and the whole world will be there! Customise the mascots! Make the mascots your own. Go to the London In 2012, the world will help London and the UK 2012 website and change what they look celebrate the Olympic and Paralympic Games. like. You can even show your friends your new To welcome everyone, London 2012 has made mascot in a gallery next to other new mascots two mascots: Wenlock and Mandeville. Wenlock from all over the world. is the mascot of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Mandeville is the mascot of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

These mascots represent the fun of the London 2012 Games. They are very special and unusual.

Wenlock and Mandeville are very excited to be getting ready for the 2012 Games.

Activity idea Add to the history Glossary Have you seen the films? What will OLYMPIC STADIUM – this is the main venue for the Wenlock or Mandeville do next? Write Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games. The Opening Ceremonies, Closing Ceremonies and the a story of your own! Work alone or in Athletics competition take place here groups. Your idea could be a short story, a poem, or a radio show – in fact, it can MASCOT – a person, object or animal that is used by be anything you want it. Remember: the a team or company e.g. a sports club to promote their more fun you have writing your story, the activity more fun people will have reading it. REPRESENT – to show what something means in a different way Welcome Wenlock

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

– ‘My name comes from the town of Much Wenlock, in . This was the place that inspired Baron Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Games. – I love all the Olympic sports – and I can’t wait to find out more about them. – My eye is actually a camera lens so I can record everything I see. – I love meeting people and making friends. The bracelets on my wrists are friendship bands, in the colours of the five Olympic Rings. – I’m made from British steel used for the Olympic Stadium, so you might see yourself in me if I meet you along the way. – The light on my head is inspired by the lights on London’s famous taxis. The three points represent the places on the podium. – I always try to do my personal best and I will do everything I can to help you do your best as well!

Do you love to learn? Do you enjoy meeting people and making new friends? Join me on my adventure at www.london2012.com/mascots

Glossary Activity idea OLYMPIC STADIUM – this is the main venue for the Inspiring images Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games. The Wenlock is on a journey around the Opening Ceremonies, Closing Ceremonies and the UK meeting new friends and learning Athletics competition take place here new things. What new things have you MASCOT – a person, object or animal that is used by learnt recently? Have you made any a team or company e.g. a sports club to promote their new friends? Can you create a picture activity that includes the things that are most important to you? Share this picture with PODIUM – a place where athletes get to stand and receive their medals. your new friends. Image sheet: Wenlock

Wenlock has been learning about so many sports and events in preparation for London 2012. Here are some pictures of what Wenlock has learnt so far:

Activity idea Promote the Olympic Values Friendship is one of the most important Glossary things in Wenlock’s life. What are the PROMOTE – give information on a topic to other people Olympic Values? How can you promote the Olympic Values in your school or OLYMPIC VALUES – right ways to live your life through the Olympic Games community? Previous Olympic mascots

Each edition of the brings new surprises. Every Host Nation will use at least one mascot to demonstrate the Olympic Values and promote the Games.

Name: Which Games? 1972 More info: Waldi was the first official Olympic mascot. The stripes on his body are the same colour as three of the five Olympic colours. Name: Name: Cobi Which Games? 1988 Which Games? More info: Hodori shows the 1992 friendly side of the tiger. There More info: Cobi had a group are often friendly tigers in of mascot friends during the Korean legends. Hodori wears Barcelona 1992 Games and the Olympic Rings around they were all on Spanish TV. Name: his neck and the streamer on Which Games? 1976 his hat in the shape of an ‘S’ More info: In one of Canada’s stands for Seoul. native Indian languages, ‘amik’ means ‘beaver’. Beavers are famous for being hard workers.

Glossary Name: The Which Games? 2008 PROMOTE – give information on a topic to other people More info: This group of mascots blessed the children of the world with wealth, happiness, passion, health and good luck. MASCOT – a person, object or animal that is used by a team or company e.g. a sports club to promote their activity Activity idea OLYMPIC VALUES – right ways to Compare the mascots live your life through the Olympic Games How have the mascots of the Games changed over time? Do they add to the excitement of the Games? How? Talk with HOST – the country holding the others and share your ideas. Games Welcome Mandeville

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

– My name comes from the birthplace of the Paralympic Games, Stoke Mandeville. Doctor Ludwig Guttmann had the idea that he could use sport to help his patients recover from serious back injuries. He set up a Wheelchair Basketball competition at the same time as the London 1948 Olympic Games and this is how the Paralympics began. – I was created from one of the last two drops of British steel used for the London 2012 Olympic Stadium, giving me a shine that reflects everything around me. – My eye is a camera lens so I can record everything I see! – From the prongs on my head representing the Paralympic logo to my small, thin tail, I’m built for speed. – I always want to be faster, and the timer on my wrist helps me push to beat my personal best. – From now until summer 2012 I am finding out all about Paralympic sport.

Join me on my adventure at london2012.com/mascots

Mandeville always wants to achieve a personal best and wants to help us reach that same goal. Mandeville wants to help people understand what it means to be disabled.

Glossary MASCOT – a person, object or animal that is used by a team or company e.g. a sports club to promote their activity

BIRTHPLACE – the place where an idea or something Activity idea was created Be your best GOALS – the future success of a person’s action What does ‘personal best’ mean to you? What is your ‘personal best’? Choose a goal PERSONAL BEST – a person’s best action or success you want to achieve by 2012. Write it down OPENING CEREMONY – a large event in the Olympic on paper. Do your friends have different Stadium to celebrate the start of the Games aims? You could make a collage of all the bits of paper on your classroom wall. LOGO – a picture or design which is used to promote a company, a product or an event Image sheet: Mandeville

Mandeville has been learning as much as possible about London 2012 before the Paralympic Games begin. Here are some of the things that Mandeville has learnt so far:

Activity idea Promoting the Paralympic Glossary Values Mandeville wants everyone to feel PROMOTE – give information on a topic to other special. What are the Paralympic Values? people How can you promote the Paralympic PARALYMPIC VALUES – right ways to live your life Values in your school or community? through the Paralympic Games Activity idea Help Mandeville to advertise sport! Can you play all the sports that Mandeville is learning? Which of these sports do you play in your school or community? Have you heard of all the sports in the list? If not, why not find out about them?

Previous Paralympic mascots

Every four years, different mascots help us celebrate the Games. These mascots are chosen to reflect the history of their Host Nation.

Name: Petra Name: Fu Niu Which Games? Barcelona Which Games? Beijing 2008 1992 More info: is a More info: Petra was part of happy cow. ‘Lele’ means a family of mascots during ‘happiness’. Cows are seen the Barcelona 1992 Games as hard working animals and and the whole mascot family this cow represented the hard featured on Spanish TV. working Values of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games. Name: Lizzie Which Games? Sydney 2000 More info: Lizzie, the frill-necked lizard, was Activity idea chosen to promote the School mascot Paralympic messages of performance, power and Why are mascots important? Do you pride. Lizzie’s frills are in the shape of Australia. have a mascot for your school? Does your favourite team have its own mascot? Name: Proteas Can you make your own mascot for your Which Games? Athens 2004 school? More info: Proteas is the seahorse. His name comes from a mythological Greek God. Proteas is a bit like the Greek Glossary word ‘protos’, which means MASCOT – a person, object or animal that is used by ‘first in rank’ or ‘excellent’. a team or company e.g. a sports club to promote their activity

HOST – the country holding the Games

HISTORY – the stories of past events