London 2012 Olympic Games mascots launched

The London Organising Committee of the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games unveiled its Olympic Mascot, Wenlock and Paralympic Mascot, Mandeville.

Wenlock and Mandeville were created from the last drops of steel left over from the construction of the final support girder for the Olympic Stadium. An animated film, based on a story by children’s author Michael Morpurgo, shows how the figures were brought to life and are able to reflect and adapt to their surroundings, changing their appearance depending on the situation. Wenlock and Mandeville will now go on separate journeys, often crossing paths and meeting people all over the UK inspiring them to choose sport as they head towards the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

The mascots’ names reflect the UK’s rich Olympic and Paralympic histories. 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.

Harvard Hoax: Adam Wheeler Harvard Scam

Harvard Hoax: Adam Wheeler Harvard Scam - A young resident of Delaware accused of inventing brilliant academic background which could enter Harvard University was held Tuesday on $ 5,000 bail after pleading not guilty.

If Adam Wheeler paid the bond, must stay away from Harvard and other academic institutions involved, surrender his passport and not leave the state of Massachusetts, told a judge in Middlesex.

Wheeler, 23, who lives in Milton, Delaware, faces 20 counts of theft, identity fraud and other charges.

Wheeler said he had obtained a perfect score on the SAT, the highest grades in the Phillips Andover Academy and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology when he submitted his application to Harvard in 2007, prosecutors said. In fact, never attended any of these institutions, said Gerry Leone’s attorney general.

Prosecutor John Vener said Tuesday in court that in practice Wheeler stole $ 45,000 in financial aid, scholarships and awards funds from Harvard.

“The actions of this defendant swipe at those who competed honestly admissions and scholarships that this defendant fraudulently obtained,” he added. Adam Wheeler, who is studying English language and would have graduated from Harvard this spring, tried to go to Yale and Brown after being discovered at Harvard.

The defendant was a student at Bowdoin College in Maine from 2005 to 2007 but was suspended for academic dishonesty, authorities said.