Shropshire toymaker's Olympic launch
British Olympic hero Sir Chris Hoy was today due to put a prestigious new London 2012 venue to the test with exactly two years to go until the start of the Games.
Today marks exactly two years to the start of the London Olympic Games, with the first London 2012 Olympic store opening its doors and in Telford toy manufacturer Golden Bear Products launching its first official Wenlock mascot.
The 30cm-high mascot will be available on the Golden Bear website at goldenbeartoys.com and on the official Olympic website at london2012.com. It costs £19.99.
The mascot was named in honour of Much Wenlock where William Penny Brookes founded the Wenlock Olympic games in 1850. The local GP is hailed as the father of the modern Olympic movement.
Organisers, sponsors and athletes hope the events will spur people on to plan now for the big event.
Decisions must be made now on whether to sign up to as one of London 2012's 70,000 official volunteers.
Tickets go on sale next year and more than 1.4 million people have already registered an interest in getting a ticket.
Nominations are also needed for the 8,000 runners to carry the Olympic flame on its 70-day relay across Britain.
