1) The markings on Wenlock's head represent the three levels of the Olympic podium, where athletes are awarded their medals. He is named after the Shropshire village of Much Wenlock, whose annual games inspired the founder of the modern Olympic moevement, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, to create the Olympics.
2) Mandeville's aerodynamic helmet features the three Paralympic colours – red, blue and green. He takes his name from Stoke Mandeville in Buckinghamshire, where injured soldiers competed in a sports tournament that was a forerunner of the modern Paralympic movement.
3) The mascots' helmets include a light inspired by the signs on top of London taxis. They both contain an initial – W for Wenlock and M for Mandeville.
4) Strikingly, the mascots have just one eye each. They are intended to represent focus, and also resemble the cameras through which the public will view and record the tournament.
5) Wenlock wears five friendship bracelets, in the colours of the Olympic rings.
6) Mandeville wears a personal best timer to keep track of his performance.
7) Both mascots are emblazoned with the London 2012 logo, which was launched to a mixed response in 2007.
8) The mascots owe their curved, metallic forms to their industrial origins. According to a background story written by the children's author Michael Morpurgo, they were crafted by a character called Grandpa George from the last drops of steel used to build the Olympic Stadium.
9) While predominantly silver, Wenlock is painted with flashes of gold and bronze, to represent all of the Olympic medals.
10) The mascots both appear in athletic poses. In merchandise to go on sale in advance of the Games they will be shown competing in various Olympic events
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They look like germs or STDS...
