Why is olympic mascot called wenlock

In the s, Dr Ludwig Guttmann came to the hospital to set up a spinal unit. Inspiration: Wenlock copies Usain Bolt's famous pose in a four-minute animation which explains the story of the duo. Looking for ways to inspire the soldiers in his care he established the Stoke Mandeville Games, widely recognised as a forerunner to the modern Paralympics.

The characters are said to have been fashioned from the last drops of steel left over from the final support girder of the Olympic stadium in Stratford, East London. The one-eyed figures were created by London-based creative agency Iris, whose clients include Wonderbra and Argos. The duo have been given their own story, written by author Michael Morpurgo which has been turned into an animated film. They also get their own website, and even individual Twitter and Facebook pages.

Built to impress: Wenlock and Mandeville's design features include cameras for eyes and the Olympic colours. The colourful dachshund was the first Olympic mascot.

The toy version of the Winter Games' snowman is now a sought-after collectors item. COBI - Barcelona The surreal dog took a while for Spaniards to get used to. IZZY - Atlanta The name for Izzy came from the phrase 'Whatizit? A kookaburra, platypus and echidna who represented earth, air and water.

FUWA - Beijing There were five mascots, collectively called Fuwa, for the Beijing Games. But it is said to have been kept to just 'a few thousand pounds' with the help of sponsors. Stephen Bayley, founder of the Design Museum, believes his daughter summed the mascots up perfectly when she referred to them as 'rubbish earrings'. He said: 'The logo was hideous enough but now we have these ridiculous, infantile mascots.

The first games were a mixture of athletics and traditional country sports such as quoits, football and cricket. Also were included running, hurdles, football and cycling on penny farthings. This body organised a festival of athletics at Crystal Palace in South London. Baron Pierre de Coubertin was invited to visit the Olympian Society in , which held a special festival in his honour.

This caused many to criticise the games — and Brookes — saying that rioting and unacceptable behaviour would occur. Instead the games were a huge success! Brookes was so determined for the games to be open to all men that when the railway came to Much Wenlock, the first train was planned to come to the town on the day of the games and Brookes insisted that the working class men were allowed to travel free.

Brookes was also Director of the Wenlock Railway Company. The games were held in different towns each year and it is from the Shropshire Olympian Games that the modern Olympics are thought to have taken the idea of host towns or cities and countries in modern days to take responsibility for the financing of the games. It held its first festival in at the Crystal Palace. The festival was a huge success and attracted 10, spectators and competitors, including W. G Grace who won the yard hurdles.

It is thought the two discussed their similar ambitions for an International Olympic Games. Brookes sadly died just four months before the first International Olympic Games in April The Wenlock Olympian Games are still held today and take place annually in July.

The town grew up around an Abbey or Monastery founded in the late 7th Century. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. Press ESC to cancel. Useful tips. Esther Fleming May 7,