The names of the mascots are Wenlock and Mandeville.




The name Wenlock comes from the Shropshire village of Much
Wenlock. In the late 19^th century, Much Wenlock was the venue for a
games event held by a local schoolmaster, Dr Brookes, who believed in the
importance of sport for all round good health. In 1890 he invited Baron Pierre
de Coubertin to come to Much Wenlock and see the games held there. This was one
of the events that inspired de Coubertin to revive the Olympic Games, leading
to the first modern Games in Athens in 1896.


Mandeville is named after Stoke Mandeville Hospital in
Buckinghamshire. This hospital, which after World War II cared for a number of
injured veterans, was the scene of games events organised for ex-servicemen
with spinal injuries. These games were the foundation of the Paralympics.


You can learn more about Wenlock and Mandeville here.