London 2012 Olympic

The Greece is the london Olympic torch first lit. It is lit by the sun. The Olympic Flame arrives in the UK on 18 May 2012. The Ben Ainslie will be the first tourch bearer in UK. Ben Ainslie is Great Britain's most successful Olympic sailor, and he won gold medals in Sailing at the Beijing 2008, Athens 2004 and Sydney 2000 Games. There are 8000 people will carry the torch across the UK. The torch will be taken to reach the Olympic stadium 70 days.

The Torch was designed by east Londoners Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby. There are four design of the torch Olympic stadium. Firstly, Representing the inspirational stories of the 8,000 Torchbearers who will carry the Olympic Flame. Secondly, the power of '3':

The three Olympic values of respect, excellence and friendship;

The three words that make the Olympic motto – faster, higher, stronger; 

The fact that the UK has hosted the Olympic Games in 1908, 1948 and will host them for the third time in 2012; and

The vision for the London 2012 Olympic Games to combine three bodies of work – sport, education and culture

Thirdly, the gold colour embraces the qualities of the Olympic Flame – the brightness and the warmth of the light that it shines.

Paralympic Torch Relay will begin in London. The name of the Olympic mascots are Wenlock and Mandeville. Wenlock’s name is inspired by the Shropshire village of Much Wenlock where the ‘Wenlock Games’ was one of the inspirations that led  the founder of the modern Olympic movement Baron Pierre de Coubertin to create the Olympic Games. Mandeville’s name is inspired by Stoke Mandeville in Buckinghamshire. In the 1940s, Dr.Ludwig Guttmann came to Stoke Mandeville Hospital to set up a new spinal unit to help former soldiers suffering from spinal cord injuries. Looking for ways to inspire those in his care, he encouraged them to take up sport, leading to the formation of the Stoke Mandeville Games, widely recognised as a forerunner of the modern Paralympic movement. 

Reference:


http://www.london2012.com/athletics/about/