Wenlock welcome

One of the London 2012 mascots 'Wenlock' welcomes visitors to London near Trafalgar Square. Wenlock is named after a small town in Shopshire called Much Wenlock.

In 1890, Baron Pierre de Coubertin was invited to visit Much Wenlock by Dr William Penny Brookes, an advocate of physical education in schools.

De Coubertin watched Dr Brookes' 'Much Wenlock Games', comprising athletics and traditional country sports with a procession of flag bearers, competitors and officials.

In 1894, de Coubertin's proposal to establish the Olympic Games in a modern form was approved and the very first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens two years later.