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Wenlock and Mandeville...sorry, but no

Call me crazy but I am never on board with the selection of inanimate mascots for sporting events.  I just can't get jazzed at all by goof-ball, alien-like characters that are supposed to enthuse me about an upcoming sporting event....even something as world-renowned as the 2012 London Olympics.

I awoke this morning to "exciting" news on the London Olympics front, or so I was led to believe by the BBC AM sports journalist.  Given I am an Olympics junkie, I quickly thought, "OK, I am ready."  Perhaps it was some revelation about more tickets being made available, or something else about the upcoming games that being a Londoner (at least for the timebeing) I could be tempted by.

Simply put..ummm...no, not exciting at all.  Today was the day that the 2012 London Olympics Mascots, named Wenlock (left) and Mandeville (right), were unveiled. (Photo credit:   Johnny Green/PA Wire)

What is to like about them?  I am a bit hard pressed as my comments below outline:

(1)  They look like tel-a-tubby cyclops....why am I going to get a mug, cap, or t-shirts with these two yahoo creatures on it?  Short answer: not!

(2)  Where did these names come from?  Are they some classic British names that are supposed to embody all things English?  Short answer:  never heard of them before.  Guess they are supposed to be as abstract as the creatures.

(3) UK children were a part of focus groups to determine the look of these mascots; apparently animals or human mascots were a "no-go".  Good to know that now that Wenlock and Mandeville are on the scene, they can help drive the fundraising efforts for 2 billion GBP from the private sector.  Short answer:  yea, right.

Check them out and judge for yourself.

Posted by Hachie Gal at 11:19 PM 


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