Values ofThe London 2012 Olympic and

Paralympic Games

Olympic motto: ‘Faster, Higher, Stronger’

Olympic oath

The Olympic oath is one of the rituals of the Olympic Games. It is taken by an athlete from the host country, on behalf of all the athletes. The athlete holds a corner of the Olympic flag while reciting the oath: “In the name of all the competitors I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, committing ourselves to a sport without doping and without drugs, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honour of our teams.”

The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games aim to encourage people all over the world to live their lives according to a set of values.

Aim to live and learn like champions

Olympic and Paralympic athletes believe in the seven Olympic Values.

1. Friendship2. Excellence3. Respect4. Inspiration5. Determination6. Equality7. Courage

We can follow them in our lives too.

Friendship

Athletes make lots of new friends at the Games.

Excellence

Olympians and Paralympians aim to be excellent in everything

they do.

Respect

We should respect each other, just like athletes respect their

opponents at the Games.

Inspiration

Olympians and Paralympians are sometimes inspired by their heroes and their achievements.

Determination

Athletes are very determined and try very hard to do their best.

Equality

Lots of athletes believe that everyone has the right to be

treated fairly.

Courage

Olympians and Paralympians show lots of courage.

The Rings

These five rings -- blue, yellow, black, green and red -- represent the five parts of the world competing in the Olympics – Europe, the Americas - Africa – Oceania and Asia. The links of the rings represent the unity between their people throughout the games.

Olympic torch

The Olympic torch relay was introduced at the Berlin Games in 1936. The torch is lit in Olympia, Greece and brought to the host city by runners carrying the torch in relay. The final torch-bearer runs towards the cauldron and lights the Olympic flame. Olympic flame

The Olympic flame or Olympic fire is a symbol of the Olympic Games. In ancient Greece a fire was kept burning throughout the celebration of the ancient Olympics and was extinguished at end of the closing ceremony. We do the same today.

The IconsThe sports are represented by icons which are used in signs at the

different venues

There are 26 sports in the Olympics (incl. 39 disciplines)

And 21 of them in the Paralympic Games

(incl. two Cycling disciplines)

The MascotsCalled Wenlock and Mandeville, Wenlock, after the Shropshire town of Much Wenlock who helped to launch the modern Olympics, and Mandeville, inspired by the Buckinghamshire town of Stoke Mandeville, where the Paralympics were founded

They will be crucial in raising funds and spreading messages about the games. They are supposed to have been made from droplets of the steel used to build the Olympic stadium.