Wenlock and Mandeville: Say hello to London’s Olympic and Paralympic mascots

London unveils 1-eyed Olympic mascots

LONDON — London has unveiled its 2012 Olympic and Paralympic mascots — one-eyed, alien-looking creations called Wenlock and Mandeville.

London 2012 organizers introduced the mascots Wednesday, and predicted they will be a big hit with children and help inspire young people to get involved in Olympic sports.

London organizing committee chairman Sebastian Coe says kids don’t want cuddly toys as mascots and prefer “something they can interact with and something with a good story behind it.”

Wenlock is named after Much Wenlock, a town whose local games helped inspire the modern Olympics. Mandeville is named after Stoke Mandeville, a town where the Paralympic movement was founded.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

LONDON (AP) — London has unveiled its 2012 Olympic and Paralympic mascots — one-eyed, alien-looking creations called Wenlock and Mandeville.

London 2012 organizers introduced the mascots Wednesday, and predicted they will be a big hit with children and help inspire young people to get involved in Olympic sports.

London organizing committee chairman Sebastian Coe says kids don’t want cuddly toys as mascots and prefer “something they can interact with and something with a good story behind it.”

Wenlock is named after Much Wenlock, a town whose local games helped inspire the modern Olympics. Mandeville is named after Stoke Mandeville, a town where the Paralympic movement was founded.