Olympic Mascot called Mandeville
Students from the Mandeville School were invited to attend Stoke Mandeville Stadium on Wednesday 19th May to attend the unveiling of the two new Olympic Mascots for the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games.
In the company of Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, Director of Paralympics Integration and the former Olympic swimmer Chris Holmes, the students watched excitedly as the new mascots Wenlock and Mandeville were revealed.
The students were visibly shocked and excited when they realised that one of the mascots was named after Stoke Mandeville Stadium.
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.”
Mandeville is the official mascot for the London 2012 Paralympic Games. His name comes from the birthplace of the Paralympic Games, Stoke Mandeville. On the day of the Opening Ceremony of the London 1948 Olympic Games, Sir Ludwig Guttmann organised a sport competition for injured World War II soldiers at the hospital there. The competition became the Paralympic Games.
From the prongs on his head representing the Paralympic emblem to his small, thin tail, Mandeville is built for speed. He always wants to be faster and the timer on his wrist helps him push to beat his personal best.
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”.
Focus groups of children and families helped form the designs and children's author Michael Morpurgo added a story concept for an animated series.
"We've created our mascots for children," said London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) chair Lord Coe. "They will connect young people with sport, and tell the story of our proud Olympic and Paralympic history." Mandeville School and the Mandeville School Sports Partnership will be utilising “Mandeville” to engage even more young people in PE & School Sport and raise standards in all subject areas across the school.
http://www.london2012.com/mascots